Mutant delta-8 desaturase genes engineered by targeted mutagensis and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to mutant delta-8 desaturase genes, which have the ability to convert eicosadienoic acid [20:2 omega-6, EDA] to dihomo-γ-linolenic acid [20:3, DGLA] and/or eicosatrienoic acid [20:3 omega-3, ETrA] to eicosatetraenoic acid [20:3 omega-3, ETA]. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-8 desaturase along with methods of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these mutant delta-8 desaturases in plants and oleaginous yeast are disclosed.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/868,953, filed Dec. 7, 2006, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of biotechnology. More specifically, this invention pertains to the creation of nucleic acid fragments encoding mutant delta-8 fatty acid desaturase enzymes and the use of these desaturases in making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The importance of PUFAs is undisputed. For example, certain PUFAs are important biological components of healthy cells and are considered “essential” fatty acids that cannot be synthesized de novo in mammals and instead must be obtained either in the diet or derived by further desaturation and elongation of linoleic acid (LA; 18:2 omega-6) or α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3 omega-3). Additionally PUFAs are constituents of plasma membranes of cells, where they may be found in such forms as phospholipids or triacylglycerols. PUFAs are necessary for proper development (particularly in the developing infant brain) and for tissue formation and repair and are precursors to several biologically active eicosanoids of importance in mammals (e.g., prostacyclins, eicosanoids, leukotrienes, prostaglandins). Studies have shown that a high intake of long-chain omega-3 PUFAs produces cardiovascular protective effects (Dyerberg, J. et al., Amer. J. Clin. Nutr. 28:958-966 (1975); Dyerberg, J. et al., Lancet. 2(8081):117-119 (1978); Shimokawa, H., World Rev. Nutr. Diet 88:100-108 (2001); von Schacky, C. and Dyerberg, J., World Rev. Nutr. Diet 88:90-99 (2001)). The literature reports wide-ranging health benefits conferred by administration of omega-3 and/or omega-6 PUFAs against a variety of symptoms and diseases (e.g., asthma, psoriasis, eczema, diabetes, cancer).

A variety of different hosts including plants, algae, fungi and yeast are being investigated as means for commercial PUFA production. Genetic engineering has demonstrated that the natural abilities of some hosts can be substantially altered to produce various long-chain omega-3/omega-6 PUFAs. For example, production of arachidonic acid (ARA; 20:4 omega-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5 omega-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 omega-3) all require expression of either the delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway or the delta-6 desaturase/delta-6 elongase pathway. The delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway is present for example in euglenoid species and is characterized by the production of eicosadienoic acid (EDA; 20:2 omega-6] and/or eicosatrienoic acid (ETrA; 20:3 omega-3). (FIG. 1). The delta-6 desaturase/delta-6 elongase pathway is predominantly found in algae, mosses, fungi, nematodes and humans and is characterized by the production of γ-linoleic acid (GLA; 18:3 omega-6) and/or stearidonic acid (STA; 18:4 omega-3) (FIG. 1).

For some applications the delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway is favored. However, delta-8 desaturase enzymes are not well known in the art leaving the construction of a recombinant delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway with limited options. The few delta-8 desaturase enzymes identified thus far have the ability to convert both EDA to dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA; 20:3) and ETrA to eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA; 20:4) (wherein ARA are EPA are subsequently synthesized from DGLA and ETA, respectively, following reaction with a delta-5 desaturase, while DHA synthesis requires subsequent expression of an additional C_(20/22) elongase and a delta-4 desaturase).

Several delta-8 desaturase enzymes are known and have been partially characterized (see for example delta-8 desaturases from Euglena gracilis Wallis et al., Arch. Biochem. and Biophys. 365(2):307-316 (1999); WO 2000/34439; U.S. Pat. No. 6,825,017; WO 2004/057001; WO 2006/012325; WO 2006/012326). Additionally WO 2005/103253 (published Apr. 22, 2005) discloses amino acid and nucleic acid sequences for a delta-8 desaturase enzyme from Pavlova salina (see also U.S. Publication No. 2005/0273885). Sayanova et al. (FEBS Lett. 580:1946-1952 (2006)) describes the isolation and characterization of a cDNA from the free living soil amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii that, when expressed in Arabidopsis, encodes a C₂₀ delta-8 desaturase. Furthermore, commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/795,810 filed Apr. 28, 2006, discloses amino acid and nucleic acid sequences for a delta-8 desaturase enzyme from Pavlova lutheri (CCMP459).

A need remains therefore for additional delta-8 desaturase enzymes to be used in recombinant pathways for the production of PUFAs. Applicants have solved the stated need by developing a synthetically engineered mutant Euglena gracilis delta-8 desaturase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns an isolated polynucleotide comprising:

-   -   (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant polypeptide having         delta-8 desaturase activity wherein the mutant polypeptide has         an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 and further         wherein SEQ ID NO:2 is not identical to SEQ ID NO:10; or,     -   (b) a complement of the nucleotide sequence of part (a), wherein         the complement and the nucleotide sequence consist of the same         number of nucleotides and are 100% complementary.

In a second embodiment, the invention concerns an isolated polynucleotide of Claim 1 wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:1 and wherein SEQ ID NO:1 is not identical to SEQ ID NO:9.

In a third embodiment, the invention comprises an isolated polynucleotide comprising:

-   -   (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant polypeptide having         delta-8 desaturase activity wherein the mutant polypeptide has         an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:198 and further         wherein SEQ ID NO:198 is not identical to SEQ ID NO:10; or,     -   (b) a complement of the nucleotide sequence of part (a), wherein         the complement and the nucleotide sequence consist of the same         number of nucleotides and are 100% complementary.

In a fourth embodiment, the invention concerns an isolated polynucleotide of Claim 3 wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:197 and wherein SEQ ID NO:197 is not identical to SEQ ID NO:9.

In a fifth embodiment, the invention concerns a recombinant construct comprising any of the polynucleotides of the invention operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence.

In a sixth embodiment, the invention concerns a cell comprising in its genome the recombinant DNA construct of the invention.

In a seventh embodiment, the invention concerns a method for producing a transgenic plant, comprising transforming a plant cell with at least one polynucleotide of the invention and regenerating a transgenic plant from the transformed plant cell. A preferred plant is soybean.

In an eighth embodiment, the invention concerns a transgenic seed comprising the recombinant construct of the invention.

In a ninth embodiment, a method for making a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in a plant cell comprising:

-   -   (a) transforming a cell with the recombinant construct of the         invention; and     -   (b) selecting those transformed cells that make long-chain         polyunsaturated fatty acids. Preferably, the plant cell is a         soybean cell.

In a tenth embodiment, the invention concerns a method for producing at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid in a soybean cell comprising:

-   -   (a) transforming a soybean cell with a first recombinant         construct comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding at         least one mutant delta-8 desaturase polypeptide, operably linked         to at least one regulatory sequence and at least one additional         recombinant construct comprising an isolated polynucleotide,         operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence, encoding a         polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a delta-4         desaturase, a delta-5 desaturase, a delta-6 desaturase, a         delta-8 desaturase, a delta-12 desaturase, a delta-15         desaturase, a delta-17 desaturase, a delta-9 desaturase, a         delta-9 elongase, a C_(14/16) elongase, a C_(16/18) elongase, a         C_(18/20) elongase and a C_(20/22) elongase;     -   (b) regenerating a soybean plant from the transformed soybean         cell of step (a); and     -   (c) selecting those seeds obtained from the plants of step (b)         having an altered level of polyunsaturated fatty acids when         compared to the level in seeds obtained from a nontransformed         soybean plant.

In an eleventh embodiment, the invention concerns an oilseed plant comprising:

-   -   (a) a first recombinant construct comprising an isolated         polynucleotide encoding at least one mutant delta-8 desaturase         polypeptide, operably linked to at least one regulatory         sequence; and     -   (b) at least one additional recombinant construct comprising an         isolated polynucleotide, operably linked to at least one         regulatory sequence, encoding a polypeptide selected from the         group consisting of a delta-4 desaturase, a delta-5 desaturase,         a delta-6 desaturase, a delta-8 desaturase, a delta-12         desaturase, a delta-15 desaturase, a delta-17 desaturase, a         delta-9 desaturase, a delta-9 elongase, C_(14/16) elongase, a         C_(16/18) elongase, a C_(18/20) elongase and a C_(20/22)         elongase.

Also of interest are transgenic seeds obtained from such oilseed plants and oil obtained from these seeds.

In a twelfth embodiment, the invention concerns food or feed which incorporates oil of the invention.

In a thirteenth embodiment, the invention concerns food or feed comprising an ingredient derived from the processing of the seeds of the invention.

In a fourteenth embodiment, the invention concerns progeny plants obtained from obtained from a plant made by the method of the invention or an oilseed plant of the invention.

Biological Deposits

The following plasmid has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, and bears the following designation, Accession Number and date of deposit (Table 1).

TABLE 1 ATCC Deposits Plasmid Accession Number Date of Deposit pKR72 PTA-6019 May 28, 2004

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND SEQUENCE LISTINGS

The invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings and Sequence Listing, which form a part of this application.

FIG. 1 is a representative PUFA biosynthetic pathway.

FIG. 2 shows a topological model of EgD8S.

FIG. 3 shows an alignment of EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10), a delta-6 desaturase of Amylomyces rouxii (SEQ ID NO:13), a delta-6 desaturase of Rhizopus orizae (SEQ ID NO:14), a delta-8 fatty acid desaturase-like protein of Leishmania major (GenBank Accession No. CAJ09677; SEQ ID NO:15), and a delta-6 desaturase of Mortierella isabellina (GenBank Accession No. AAG38104; SEQ ID NO:16). The method of alignment used corresponds to the “Clustal W method of alignment”.

FIG. 4 shows an alignment of EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10), the cytochrome b₅ of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (GenBank Accession No. P40312; SEQ ID NO:178) and a probable cytochrome b₅ 1 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe (GenBank Accession No. O94391; SEQ ID NO:179). The method of alignment used corresponds to the “Clustal W method of alignment”.

FIG. 5 provides plasmid maps for the following: (A) pZKLeuN-29E3; and, (B) pY116.

FIG. 6 provides plasmid maps for the following: (A) pKUNFmkF2; (B) pDMW287F; (C) pDMW214; and, (D) pFmD8S.

FIG. 7 diagrams the synthesis of the Mutant EgD8S-5B, by ligation of fragments from Mutant EgD8S-1 and Mutant EgD8S-2B.

FIG. 8A diagrams the synthesis of Mutant EgD8S-008, by ligation of fragments from Mutant EgD8S-001 and Mutant EgD8S-003. Similarly, FIG. 8B diagrams the synthesis of Mutant EgD8S-009, by ligation of fragments from Mutant EgD8S-001 and Mutant EgD8S-004.

FIG. 9A diagrams the synthesis of Mutant EgD8S-013, by ligation of fragments from Mutant EgD8S-009 and Mutant EgD8S-23. Similarly, FIG. 9B diagrams the synthesis of Mutant EgD8S-015, by ligation of fragments from Mutant EgD8S-008 and Mutant EgD8S-28.

FIG. 10 shows an alignment of EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10), Mutant EgD8S-23 (SEQ ID NO:4), Mutant EgD8S-013 (SEQ ID NO:6) and Mutant EgD8S-015 (SEQ ID NO:8). The method of alignment used corresponds to the “Clustal W method of alignment”.

FIG. 11 provides plasmid maps for the following: (A) pKo2UFm8; and, (B) pKO2UF8289.

FIG. 12 provides a plasmid map for pKR1060.

FIG. 13 provides a plasmid map for pKR1059.

FIG. 14 shows the lipid profiles of somatic soybean embryos expressing EgD8S-23 and the Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase for the top 5 events (see example 17).

The sequence descriptions summarize the Sequences Listing provided herewith. The Sequence Listing contains one letter codes for nucleotide sequence characters and the single and three letter codes for amino acids as defined in the IUPAC-IUB standards described in Nucleic Acids Research 13:3021-3030 (1985) and in the Biochemical Journal 219(2):345-373 (1984). The following sequences comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.821-1.825 (“Requirements for Patent Applications Containing Nucleotide Sequences and/or Amino Acid Sequence Disclosures—the Sequence Rules”) and are consistent with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standard ST.25 (1998) and the sequence listing requirements of the EPO and PCT (Rules 5.2 and 49.5 (a-bis), and Section 208 and Annex C of the Administrative Instructions). The symbols and format used for nucleotide and amino acid sequence data comply with the rules set forth in 37 C.F.R. §1.822.

SEQ ID NOs:1-17, 19-23,165 and 172-177 are ORFs encoding genes or proteins (or portions thereof) or plasmids, as identified in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Summary Of Nucleic Acid And Protein SEQ ID Numbers Protein Nucleic acid SEQ Description and Abbreviation SEQ ID NO. ID NO. Synthetic mutant delta-8 desaturase,  1  2 derived from Euglena gracilis (“EgD8S- (1272 bp) (422 AA) consensus”) optionally comprising M1, M2, M3, M8, M12, M15, M16, M18, M21, M26, M38, M45, M46, M51, M63, M68, M69 and M70 mutation sites Synthetic mutant delta-8 desaturase, 197 198 derived from Euglena gracilis (“EgD8S- (1272 bp) (422 AA) consensus”) optionally comprising M1, M2, M3, M6, M8, M12, M14, M15, M16, M18, M19, M21, M22, M26, M38, M39, M40, M41, M45, M46, M49, M50, M51, M53, M54, M58, M63, M68, M69 and M70 mutation sites Synthetic mutant delta-8 desaturase,  3  4 derived from Euglena gracilis (“Mutant (1272 bp) (422 AA) EgD8S-23”) Synthetic mutant delta-8 desaturase,  5  6 derived from Euglena gracilis (“Mutant (1272 bp) (422 AA) EgD8S-013”) Synthetic mutant delta-8 desaturase,  7  8 derived from Euglena gracilis (“Mutant (1272 bp) (422 AA) EgD8S-015”) Synthetic delta-8 desaturase, derived from  9  10 Euglena gracilis, codon-optimized for (1272 bp) (422 AA) expression in Yarrowia lipolytica (“EgD8S”) Euglena gracilis delta-8 desaturase (full-  11  12 length gene is nucleotides 4-1269 (Stop)) (1271 bp) (421 AA) (“EgD8”) Amylomyces rouxii delta-6 desaturase —  13 (GenBank Accession No. AAR27297) (467 AA) Rhizopus orizae delta-6 desaturase —  14 (GenBank Accession No. AAS93682) (445 AA) Leishmania major delta-8 fatty acid —  15 desaturase-like protein (GenBank (382 AA) Accession No. CAJ09677) Mortierella isabellina delta-6 desaturase —  16 (GenBank Accession No. AAG38104) (439 AA) Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytochrome b₅ — 178 (GenBank Accession No. P40312) (120 AA) Schizosaccharomyces pombe probable — 179 cytochrome b₅ 1 (GenBank Accession No. (124 AA) O94391) Plasmid pZKLeuN-29E3  17 — (14,655 bp)   Synthetic C_(16/18) elongase gene derived  19 — from Mortierella alpina ELO3, codon-  (828 bp) optimized for expression in Yarrowia lipolytica Plasmid pFmD8S  20 — (8,910 bp)  Plasmid pKUNFmkF2  21 — (7,145 bp)  Plasmid pDMW287F  22 — (5,473 bp)  Plasmid pDMW214  23 — (9,513 bp)  Plasmid pKO2UFkF2 165 — (8,560 bp)  Isochrysis galbana delta-9 elongase 172 173 (GenBank Accession No. AF390174) (1064 bp) (263 AA) Synthetic delta-9 elongase gene derived 174 173 from Isochrysis galbana, codon-optimized  (792 bp) (263 AA) for expression in Yarrowia lipolytica Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase 175 176  (777 bp) (258 AA) Synthetic delta-9 elongase gene derived 177 176 from Euglena gracilis, codon-optimized for  (777 bp) (258 AA) expression in Yarrowia lipolytica Plasmid pY116 180 — (8739 bp) Plasmid pKO2UF8289 181 — (15,304 bp)   Synthetic mutant delta-8 desaturase, 182 — derived from Euglena gracilis (“modified (1288 bp) Mutant EgD8S-23”), comprising a 5′ Not1 site Plasmid pKR457 183 — (5252 bp) Plasmid pKR1058 184 — (6532 bp) Plasmid pKR607 185 — (7887 bp) Plasmid pKR1060 186 — (11,766 bp)   Plasmid pKR906 189 — (4311 bp) Plasmid pKR72 190 — (7085 bp) Plasmid pKR1010 191 — (7873 bp) Plasmid pKR1059 192 — (11752 bp)  Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase - 5′ 194 — sequence of the cDNA insert from clone  (757 bp) eeg1c.pk001.n5.f. Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase - 3′ 195 — sequence of the cDNA insert from clone  (774 bp) eeg1c.pk001.n5.f. Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase - 196 — sequence aligned from SEQ ID NO: 1 and (1201 bp) SEQ ID NO: 2 (full cDNA sequence excluding polyA tail)

SEQ ID NO:18 corresponds to a LoxP recombination site that is recognized by a Cre recombinase enzyme.

SEQ ID NOs:24-164 correspond to 70 pairs of nucleotide primers (i.e., 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, etc. up to 69A, 69B, 70A and 70B, respectively), used to create specific targeted mutations at mutation sites M1, M2, M3, etc. up to M70.

SEQ ID NOs:166-171 correspond to His-rich motifs that are featured in membrane-bound fatty acid desaturases belonging to a super-family of membrane di-iron proteins.

SEQ ID NOs:187 and 188 correspond to primers oEugEL1-1 and oEugEL1-2, respectively, used to amplify a Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase.

SEQ ID NO:193 is the M13F universal primer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a plant” includes a plurality of such plants, reference to “a cell” includes one or more cells and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

All patents, patent applications, and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. This specifically includes the following commonly owned and copending applications: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,478, No. 10/840,579 and No. 10/840,325 (filed May 6, 2004), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/869,630 (filed Jun. 16, 2004), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/882,760 (filed Jul. 1, 2004), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/985,254 and No. 10/985,691 (filed Nov. 10, 2004), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/987,548 (filed Nov. 12, 2004), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/024,545 and No. 11/024,544 (filed Dec. 29, 2004), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/166,993 (filed Jun. 24, 2005), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/183,664 (filed Jul. 18, 2005), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/185,301 (filed Jul. 20, 2005), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/190,750 (filed Jul. 27, 2005), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/198,975 (filed Aug. 8, 2005), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/225,354 (filed Sep. 13, 2005), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/251,466 (filed Oct. 14, 2005), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/254,173 and No. 11/253,882 (filed Oct. 19, 2005), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/264,784 and No. 11/264,737 (filed Nov. 1, 2005), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/265,761 (filed Nov. 2, 2005), U.S. Patent Application No. 60/739,989 (filed Nov. 23, 2005), U.S. Patent Application No. 60/793,575 (filed Apr. 20, 2006), U.S. Patent Application No. 60/795,810 (filed Apr. 28, 2006), U.S. Patent Application No. 60/796,637 (filed May 1, 2006) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/801,172 and No. 60/801,119 (filed May 17, 2006).

Additionally, commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/776,311, (published Aug. 26, 2004) relating to the production of PUFAs in plants, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/776,889 (published Aug. 26, 2004) relating to annexin promoters and their use in expression of transgenes in plants, are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present invention provides mutant delta-8 desaturase enzymes and genes encoding the same, that may be used for the manipulation of biochemical pathways for the production of healthful PUFAs.

PUFAs, or derivatives thereof, made by the methodology disclosed herein can be used as dietary substitutes, or supplements, particularly infant formulas, for patients undergoing intravenous feeding or for preventing or treating malnutrition. Alternatively, the purified PUFAs (or derivatives thereof) may be incorporated into cooking oils, fats or margarines formulated so that in normal use the recipient would receive the desired amount for dietary supplementation. PUFAs may also be used as anti-inflammatory or cholesterol lowering agents as components of pharmaceutical or veterinary compositions.

In this disclosure, a number of terms and abbreviations are used. The following definitions are provided.

“Open reading frame” is abbreviated ORF.

“Polymerase chain reaction” is abbreviated PCR.

“American Type Culture Collection” is abbreviated ATCC.

“Polyunsaturated fatty acid(s)” is abbreviated PUFA(s).

“Triacylglycerols” are abbreviated TAGs.

The term “fatty acids” refers to long-chain aliphatic acids (alkanoic acids) of varying chain lengths, from about C₁₂ to C₂₂ (although both longer and shorter chain-length acids are known). The predominant chain lengths are between C₁₆ and C₂₂. Additional details concerning the differentiation between “saturated fatty acids” versus “unsaturated fatty acids”, “monounsaturated fatty acids” versus “polyunsaturated fatty acids” (or “PUFAs”), and “omega-6 fatty acids” (omega-6 or n-6) versus “omega-3 fatty acids” (omega-3 or n-3) are provided in WO2004/101757.

Fatty acids are described herein by a simple notation system of “X:Y”, wherein X is the number of carbon (C) atoms in the particular fatty acid and Y is the number of double bonds. The number following the fatty acid designation indicates the position of the double bond from the carboxyl end of the fatty acid with the “c” affix for the cis-configuration of the double bond (e.g., palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1, 9c), petroselinic acid (18:1, 6c), LA (18:2, 9c, 12c), GLA (18:3, 6c, 9c, 12c) and ALA (18:3, 9c, 12c, 15c). Unless otherwise specified, 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 refer to oleic, LA and ALA fatty acids. If not specifically written as otherwise, double bonds are assumed to be of the cis configuration. For instance, the double bonds in 18:2 (9,12) would be assumed to be in the cis configuration.

Nomenclature used to describe PUFAs in the present disclosure is shown below in Table 3. In the column titled “Shorthand Notation”, the omega-reference system is used to indicate the number of carbons, the number of double bonds and the position of the double bond closest to the omega carbon, counting from the omega carbon (which is numbered 1 for this purpose). The remainder of the Table summarizes the common names of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and their precursors, the abbreviations that will be used throughout the specification, and each compounds' chemical name.

TABLE 3 Nomenclature Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids And Precursors Common Shorthand Name Abbreviation Chemical Name Notation myristic — tetradecanoic 14:0 palmitic PA hexadecanoic 16:0 palmitoleic — 9-hexadecenoic 16:1 stearic — octadecanoic 18:0 oleic — cis-9-octadecenoic 18:1 linoleic LA cis-9,12-octadecadienoic 18:2 omega-6 gamma- GLA cis-6,9,12- 18:3 linolenic octadecatrienoic omega-6 eicosadienoic EDA cis-11,14-eicosadienoic 20:2 omega-6 dihomo- DGLA cis-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic 20:3 gamma- omega-6 linolenic sciadonic SCI cis-5,11,14-eicosatrienoic 20:3b omega-6 arachidonic ARA cis-5,8,11,14- 20:4 eicosatetraenoic omega-6 alpha-linolenic ALA cis-9,12,15- 18:3 octadecatrienoic omega-3 stearidonic STA cis-6,9,12,15- 18:4 octadecatetraenoic omega-3 eicosatrienoic ETrA or ERA cis-11,14,17- 20:3 eicosatrienoic omega-3 eicosa- ETA cis-8,11,14,17- 20:4 tetraenoic eicosatetraenoic omega-3 juniperonic JUP cis-5,11,14,17- 20:4b eicosatrienoic omega-3 eicosa- EPA cis-5,8,11,14,17- 20:5 pentaenoic eicosapentaenoic omega-3 docosa- DPA cis-7,10,13,16,19- 22:5 pentaenoic docosapentaenoic omega-3 docosa- DHA cis-4,7,10,13,16,19- 22:6 hexaenoic docosahexaenoic omega-3

The terms “triacylglycerol”, “oil” and “TAGs” refer to neutral lipids composed of three fatty acyl residues esterified to a glycerol molecule (and such terms will be used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure herein). Such oils can contain long-chain PUFAs, as well as shorter saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and longer chain saturated fatty acids. Thus, “oil biosynthesis” generically refers to the synthesis of TAGs in the cell.

“Percent (%) PUFAs in the total lipid and oil fractions” refers to the percent of PUFAs relative to the total fatty acids in those fractions. The term “total lipid fraction” or “lipid fraction” both refer to the sum of all lipids (i.e., neutral and polar) within an oleaginous organism, thus including those lipids that are located in the phosphatidylcholine (PC) fraction, phosphatidyletanolamine (PE) fraction and triacylglycerol (TAG or oil) fraction. However, the terms “lipid” and “oil” will be used interchangeably throughout the specification.

The term “PUFA biosynthetic pathway” refers to a metabolic process that converts oleic acid to LA, EDA, GLA, DGLA, ARA, ALA, STA, ETrA, ETA, EPA, DPA and DHA. This process is well described in the literature (e.g., see WO 2006/052870). Briefly, this process involves elongation of the carbon chain through the addition of carbon atoms and desaturation of the molecule through the addition of double bonds, via a series of special desaturation and elongation enzymes (i.e., “PUFA biosynthetic pathway enzymes”) present in the endoplasmic reticulim membrane. More specifically, “PUFA biosynthetic pathway enzyme” refers to any of the following enzymes (and genes which encode said enzymes) associated with the biosynthesis of a PUFA, including: a delta-4 desaturase, a delta-5 desaturase, a delta-6 desaturase, a delta-12 desaturase, a delta-15 desaturase, a delta-17 desaturase, a delta-9 desaturase, a delta-8 desaturase, a C_(14/16) elongase, a delta-9 elongase, a C_(16/18) elongase, a C_(18/20) elongase and/or a C_(20/22) elongase.

The term “omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway” refers to a set of genes which, when expressed under the appropriate conditions encode enzymes that catalyze the production of either or both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Typically the genes involved in the omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway encode some or all of the following enzymes: delta-12 desaturase, delta-6 desaturase, C_(18/20) elongase, C_(20/22) elongase, delta-5 desaturase, delta-17 desaturase, delta-15 desaturase, delta-9 desaturase, delta-8 desaturase, a delta-9 elongase and delta-4 desaturase. A representative pathway is illustrated in FIG. 1, providing for the conversion of oleic acid through various intermediates to DHA, which demonstrates how both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may be produced from a common source. The pathway is naturally divided into two portions where one portion will generate omega-3 fatty acids and the other portion, only omega-6 fatty acids. That portion that only generates omega-3 fatty acids will be referred to herein as the omega-3 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway, whereas that portion that generates only omega-6 fatty acids will be referred to herein as the omega-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway.

The term “functional” as used herein in context with the omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway means that some (or all of) the genes in the pathway express active enzymes, resulting in in vivo catalysis or substrate conversion. It should be understood that “omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway” or “functional omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway” does not imply that all the genes listed in the above paragraph are required, as a number of fatty acid products will only require the expression of a subset of the genes of this pathway.

The term “desaturase” refers to a polypeptide that can desaturate, i.e., introduce a double bond, in one or more fatty acids to produce a fatty acid or precursor of interest. Despite use of the omega-reference system throughout the specification to refer to specific fatty acids, it is more convenient to indicate the activity of a desaturase by counting from the carboxyl end of the substrate using the delta-system. Of particular interest herein are delta-8 desaturases that will desaturate a fatty acid between the 8^(th) and 9^(th) carbon atom numbered from the carboxyl-terminal end of the molecule and that can, for example, catalyze the conversion of EDA to DGLA and/or ETrA to ETA. Other desaturases include: (1) delta-5 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of DGLA to ARA and/or ETA to EPA; (2) delta-6 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of LA to GLA and/or ALA to STA; (3) delta-4 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of DPA to DHA; (4) delta-12 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of oleic acid to LA; (5) delta-15 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of LA to ALA and/or GLA to STA; (6) delta-17 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of ARA to EPA and/or DGLA to ETA; and (7) delta-9 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of palmitate to palmitoleic acid (16:1) and/or stearate to oleic acid (18:1). In the art, delta-15 and delta-17 desaturases are also occasionally referred to as “omega-3 desaturases”, “w-3 desaturases”, and/or “omega-3 desaturases”, based on their ability to convert omega-6 fatty acids into their omega-3 counterparts (e.g., conversion of LA into ALA and ARA into EPA, respectively). In some embodiments, it is most desirable to empirically determine the specificity of a particular fatty acid desaturase by transforming a suitable host with the gene for the fatty acid desaturase and determining its effect on the fatty acid profile of the host.

For the purposes herein, the term “EgD8” refers to a delta-8 desaturase enzyme (SEQ ID NO:12) isolated from Euglena gracilis, encoded by SEQ ID NO:11 herein. EgD8 is 100% identical and functionally equivalent to “Eg5”, as described in WO 2006/012325 and WO 2006/012326 (US2005-0287652-A1).

Similarly, the term “EgD8S” refers to a synthetic delta-8 desaturase derived from Euglena gracilis that is codon-optimized for expression in Yarrowia lipolytica herein (i.e., SEQ ID NOs:9 and 10). EgD8S is 100% identical and functionally equivalent to “D8SF”, as described in WO 2006/012325 and WO 2006/012326.

The term “mutant EgD8S” refers to a delta-8 desaturase of the present invention that has at least one mutation with respect to the synthetic delta-8 desaturase derived from Euglena gracilis that is codon-optimized for expression in Yarrowia lipolytica (i.e., EgD8S). Although “mutations” may include any deletions, insertions and point mutations (or combinations thereof), preferred embodiments of the mutant EgD8S are set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, wherein: (i) SEQ ID NO:2 comprises at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of: 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 132V to L, 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 279T to L, 280L to T, 293L to M, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A and 422L to Q, wherein the mutations are defined with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized sequence of EgD8S (i.e., SEQ ID NO:10); and (ii) SEQ ID NO:2 is not 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:10. In more preferred embodiments, the mutant EgD8S has at least about 10-18 mutations with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized sequence of EgD8S, more preferably at least about 19-25 mutations, and most preferably at least about 26-33 mutations with respect to synthetic codon-optimized sequence of EgD8S (i.e., SEQ ID NO:10). In still another embodiment, the delta-8 desaturase activity of the mutant EgD8S is at least about functionally equivalent to the delta-8 desaturase activity of the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10).

A mutant EgD8S is “at least about functionally equivalent” to EgD8S when enzymatic activity and specific selectivity of the mutant EgD8S sequence are comparable to that of EgD8S, despite differing polypeptide sequences. Thus, a functionally equivalent mutant EgD8S sequence will possess delta-8 desaturase activity that is not substantially reduced with respect to that of EgD8S when the “conversion efficiency” of each enzyme is compared (i.e., a mutant EgD8S will have at least about 50%, preferably at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 85%, and most preferably at least about 95% of the enzymatic activity of EgD8S). In more preferred embodiments, the mutant EgD8S will have increased enzymatic activity and specific selectivity when compared to that of EgD8S (i.e., at least about 105%, more preferably at least about 115% and most preferably at least about 125% of the enzymatic activity of EgD8S).

The terms “conversion efficiency” and “percent substrate conversion” refer to the efficiency by which a particular enzyme (e.g., a desaturase) can convert substrate to product. The conversion efficiency is measured according to the following formula: ([product]/[substrate+product])*100, where ‘product’ includes the immediate product and all products in the pathway derived from it.

The term “elongase system” refers to a suite of four enzymes that are responsible for elongation of a fatty acid carbon chain to produce a fatty acid that is 2 carbons longer than the fatty acid substrate that the elongase system acts upon. More specifically, the process of elongation occurs in association with fatty acid synthase, whereby CoA is the acyl carrier (Lassner et al., The Plant Cell, 8:281-292 (1996)). In the first step, which has been found to be both substrate-specific and also rate-limiting, malonyl-CoA is condensed with a long-chain acyl-CoA to yield CO₂ and a β-ketoacyl-CoA (where the acyl moiety has been elongated by two carbon atoms). Subsequent reactions include reduction to β-hydroxyacyl-CoA, dehydration to an enoyl-CoA and a second reduction to yield the elongated acyl-CoA. Examples of reactions catalyzed by elongase systems are the conversion of GLA to DGLA, STA to ETA and EPA to DPA.

For the purposes herein, an enzyme catalyzing the first condensation reaction (i.e., conversion of malonyl-CoA to β-ketoacyl-CoA) will be referred to generically as an “elongase”. In general, the substrate selectivity of elongases is somewhat broad but segregated by both chain length and the degree of unsaturation. Accordingly, elongases can have different specificities. For example, a C_(14/16) elongase will utilize a C₁₄ substrate (e.g., myristic acid), a C_(16/18) elongase will utilize a C₁₆ substrate (e.g., palmitate), a C_(18/20) elongase will utilize a C₁₈ substrate (e.g., GLA, STA) and a C_(20/22) elongase will utilize a C₂₀ substrate (e.g., EPA). In like manner, a delta-9 elongase is able to catalyze the conversion of LA and ALA to EDA and ETrA, respectively (e.g., WO 2002/077213). It is important to note that some elongases have broad specificity and thus a single enzyme may be capable of catalyzing several elongase reactions (e.g., thereby acting as both a C_(16/18) elongase and a C_(18/20) elongase).

The term “delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway” refers to a biosynthetic pathway for production of long-chain PUFAs, said pathway minimally comprising a delta-9 elongase and a delta-8 desaturase and thereby enabling biosynthesis of DGLA and/or ETA from LA and ALA, respectively. This pathway may be advantageous in some embodiments, as the biosynthesis of GLA and/or STA is excluded.

The term “amino acid” will refer to the basic chemical structural unit of a protein or polypeptide. The amino acids are identified by either the one-letter code or the three-letter codes for amino acids, in conformity with the IUPAC-IYUB standards described in Nucleic Acids Research, 13:3021-3030 (1985) and in the Biochemical Journal, 219 (2):345-373 (1984), which are herein incorporated by reference.

The term “conservative amino acid substitution” refers to a substitution of an amino acid residue in a given protein with another amino acid, without altering the chemical or functional nature of that protein. For example, it is well known in the art that alterations in a gene that result in the production of a chemically equivalent amino acid at a given site (but do not affect the structural and functional properties of the encoded, folded protein) are common. For the purposes of the present invention, “conservative amino acid substitutions” are defined as exchanges within one of the following five groups:

-   -   1. Small aliphatic, nonpolar or slightly polar residues: Ala         [A], Ser [S], Thr [T] (Pro [P], Gly [G]);     -   2. Polar, negatively charged residues and their amides: Asp [D],         Asn [N], Glu [E], Gln [Q];     -   3. Polar, positively charged residues: His [H], Arg [R], Lys         [K];     -   4. Large aliphatic, nonpolar residues: Met [M], Leu [L], Ile         [I], Val [V] (Cys [C]); and     -   5. Large aromatic residues: Phe [F], Tyr [Y], Trp [W].         Thus, Ala, a slightly hydrophobic amino acid, may be substituted         by another less hydrophobic residue (e.g., Gly). Similarly,         changes which result in substitution of one negatively charged         residue for another (e.g., Asp for Glu) or one positively         charged residue for another (e.g., Lys for Arg) can also be         expected to produce a functionally equivalent product. As such,         conservative amino acid substitutions generally maintain: 1.)         the structure of the polypeptide backbone in the area of the         substitution; 2.) the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule         at the target site; or 3.) the bulk of the side chain.         Additionally, in many cases, alterations of the N-terminal and         C-terminal portions of the protein molecule would also not be         expected to alter the activity of the protein.

The term “non-conservative amino acid substitution” refers to an amino acid substitution that is generally expected to produce the greatest change in protein properties. Thus, for example, a non-conservative amino acid substitution would be one whereby: 1.) a hydrophilic residue is substituted for/by a hydrophobic residue (e.g., Ser or Thr for/by Leu, Ile, Val); 2.) a Cys or Pro is substituted for/by any other residue; 3.) a residue having an electropositive side chain is substituted for/by an electronegative residue (e.g., Lys, Arg or His for/by Asp or Glu); or, 4.) a residue having a bulky side chain is substituted for/by one not having a side chain (e.g., Phe for/by Gly). Sometimes, non-conservative amino acid substitutions between two of the five groups will not affect the activity of the encoded protein.

The terms “polynucleotide”, “polynucleotide sequence”, “nucleic acid sequence”, “nucleic acid fragment” and “isolated nucleic acid fragment” are used interchangeably herein. A polynucleotide may be a polymer of RNA or DNA that is single- or double-stranded, that optionally contains synthetic, non-natural or altered nucleotide bases. A polynucleotide in the form of a polymer of DNA may be comprised of one or more segments of cDNA, genomic DNA, synthetic DNA, or mixtures thereof.

A nucleic acid fragment is “hybridizable” to another nucleic acid fragment, such as a cDNA, genomic DNA, or RNA molecule, when a single-stranded form of the nucleic acid fragment can anneal to the other nucleic acid fragment under the appropriate conditions of temperature and solution ionic strength. Hybridization and washing conditions are well known and exemplified in Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), particularly Chapter 11 and Table 11.1 therein (entirely incorporated herein by reference). The conditions of temperature and ionic strength determine the “stringency” of the hybridization. Stringency conditions can be adjusted to screen for moderately similar fragments (such as homologous sequences from distantly related organisms), to highly similar fragments (such as genes that duplicate functional enzymes from closely related organisms). Post-hybridization washes determine stringency conditions. One set of preferred conditions uses a series of washes starting with 6×SSC, 0.5% SDS at room temperature for 15 min, then repeated with 2×SSC, 0.5% SDS at 45° C. for 30 min, and then repeated twice with 0.2×SSC, 0.5% SDS at 50° C. for 30 min. A more preferred set of stringent conditions uses higher temperatures in which the washes are identical to those above except for the temperature of the final two 30 min washes in 0.2×SSC, 0.5% SDS was increased to 60° C. Another preferred set of highly stringent conditions uses two final washes in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65° C. An additional set of stringent conditions include hybridization at 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS, 65° C. and washed with 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS followed by 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS, for example.

Hybridization requires that the two nucleic acids contain complementary sequences, although depending on the stringency of the hybridization, mismatches between bases are possible. The appropriate stringency for hybridizing nucleic acids depends on the length of the nucleic acids and the degree of complementation, variables well known in the art. The greater the degree of similarity or homology between two nucleotide sequences, the greater the value of Tm for hybrids of nucleic acids having those sequences. The relative stability (corresponding to higher Tm) of nucleic acid hybridizations decreases in the following order: RNA:RNA, DNA:RNA, DNA:DNA. For hybrids of greater than 100 nucleotides in length, equations for calculating Tm have been derived (see Sambrook et al., supra, 9.50-9.51). For hybridizations with shorter nucleic acids, i.e., oligonucleotides, the position of mismatches becomes more important, and the length of the oligonucleotide determines its specificity (see Sambrook et al., supra, 11.7-11.8). In one embodiment the length for a hybridizable nucleic acid is at least about 10 nucleotides. Preferably a minimum length for a hybridizable nucleic acid is at least about 15 nucleotides; more preferably at least about 20 nucleotides; and most preferably the length is at least about 30 nucleotides. Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize that the temperature and wash solution salt concentration may be adjusted as necessary according to factors such as length of the probe.

A “substantial portion” of an amino acid or nucleotide sequence is that portion comprising enough of the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide or the nucleotide sequence of a gene to putatively identify that polypeptide or gene, either by manual evaluation of the sequence by one skilled in the art, or by computer-automated sequence comparison and identification using algorithms such as BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul, S. F., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1993)). In general, a sequence of ten or more contiguous amino acids or thirty or more nucleotides is necessary in order to putatively identify a polypeptide or nucleic acid sequence as homologous to a known protein or gene. Moreover, with respect to nucleotide sequences, gene specific oligonucleotide probes comprising 20-30 contiguous nucleotides may be used in sequence-dependent methods of gene identification (e.g., Southern hybridization) and isolation (e.g., in situ hybridization of bacterial colonies or bacteriophage plaques). In addition, short oligonucleotides of 12-15 bases may be used as amplification primers in PCR in order to obtain a particular nucleic acid fragment comprising the primers. Accordingly, a “substantial portion” of a nucleotide sequence comprises enough of the sequence to specifically identify and/or isolate a nucleic acid fragment comprising the sequence. The instant specification teaches the complete amino acid and nucleotide sequence encoding one or more particular delta-8 desaturase proteins. The skilled artisan, having the benefit of the sequences as reported herein, may now use all or a substantial portion of the disclosed sequences for purposes known to those skilled in this art. Accordingly, the instant invention comprises the complete sequences as reported in the accompanying Sequence Listing, as well as substantial portions of those sequences as defined above.

The term “complementary” is used to describe the relationship between nucleotide bases that are capable of hybridizing to one another. For example, with respect to DNA, adenosine is complementary to thymine and cytosine is complementary to guanine. Accordingly, the invention herein also includes isolated nucleic acid fragments that are complementary to the complete sequences as reported in the accompanying Sequence Listing, as well as those substantially similar nucleic acid sequences.

The terms “homology”, “homologous”, “substantially similar” and “corresponding substantially” are used interchangeably herein. They refer to nucleic acid fragments wherein changes in one or more nucleotide bases do not affect the ability of the nucleic acid fragment to mediate gene expression or produce a certain phenotype. These terms also refer to modifications of the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention such as deletion or insertion of one or more nucleotides that do not substantially alter the functional properties of the resulting nucleic acid fragment relative to the initial, unmodified fragment. It is therefore understood, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, that the invention encompasses more than the specific exemplary sequences.

Moreover, the skilled artisan recognizes that substantially similar nucleic acid sequences encompassed by this invention are also defined by their ability to hybridize, under moderately stringent conditions (e.g., 0.5×SSC, 0.1% SDS, 60° C.) with the sequences exemplified herein, or to any portion of the nucleotide sequences disclosed herein and which are functionally equivalent to any of the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein.

“Codon degeneracy” refers to the nature in the genetic code permitting variation of the nucleotide sequence without effecting the amino acid sequence of an encoded polypeptide. Accordingly, the instant invention relates to any nucleic acid fragment that encodes all or a substantial portion of the amino acid sequence encoding the instant delta-8 desaturase polypeptides as set forth in SEQ ID NOs:2, and 12. The skilled artisan is well aware of the “codon-bias” exhibited by a specific host cell in usage of nucleotide codons to specify a given amino acid. Therefore, when synthesizing a gene for improved expression in a host cell, it is desirable to design the gene such that its frequency of codon usage approaches the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell.

“Chemically synthesized”, as related to a sequence of DNA, means that the component nucleotides were assembled in vitro. Manual chemical synthesis of DNA may be accomplished using well-established procedures or, automated chemical synthesis can be performed using one of a number of commercially available machines. “Synthetic genes” can be assembled from oligonucleotide building blocks that are chemically synthesized using procedures known to those skilled in the art. These building blocks are ligated and annealed to form gene segments that are then enzymatically assembled to construct the entire gene. Accordingly, the genes can be tailored for optimal gene expression based on optimization of nucleotide sequence to reflect the codon bias of the host cell. The skilled artisan appreciates the likelihood of successful gene expression if codon usage is biased towards those codons favored by the host. Determination of preferred codons can be based on a survey of genes derived from the host cell, where sequence information is available.

“Gene” refers to a nucleic acid fragment that expresses a specific protein, and that may refer to the coding region alone or may include regulatory sequences preceding (5′ non-coding sequences) and following (3′ non-coding sequences) the coding sequence. “Native gene” refers to a gene as found in nature with its own regulatory sequences. “Chimeric gene” refers any gene that is not a native gene, comprising regulatory and coding sequences that are not found together in nature. Accordingly, a chimeric gene may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived from the same source, but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature. “Endogenous gene” refers to a native gene in its natural location in the genome of an organism. A “foreign” gene refers to a gene not normally found in the host organism, but that is introduced into the host organism by gene transfer. Foreign genes can comprise native genes inserted into a non-native organism, native genes introduced into a new location within the native host, or chimeric genes. A “transgene” is a gene that has been introduced into the genome by a transformation procedure. A “codon-optimized gene” is a gene having its frequency of codon usage designed to mimic the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell.

An “allele” is one of several alternative forms of a gene occupying a given locus on a chromosome. When all the alleles present at a given locus on a chromosome are the same that plant is homozygous at that locus. If the alleles present at a given locus on a chromosome differ, that plant is heterozygous at that locus.

“Coding sequence” refers to a DNA sequence that codes for a specific amino acid sequence. “Suitable regulatory sequences” refer to nucleotide sequences located upstream (5′ non-coding sequences), within, or downstream (3′ non-coding sequences) of a coding sequence, and which influence the transcription, RNA processing or stability, or translation of the associated coding sequence. Regulatory sequences may include, but are not limited to: promoters, translation leader sequences, introns, polyadenylation recognition sequences, RNA processing sites, effector binding sites and stem-loop structures.

“Promoter” refers to a DNA sequence capable of controlling the expression of a coding sequence or functional RNA. In general, a coding sequence is located 3′ to a promoter sequence. The promoter sequence may consist of proximal and more distal upstream elements, the latter elements often referred to as enhancers. Accordingly, an “enhancer” is a DNA sequence that can stimulate promoter activity, and may be an innate element of the promoter or a heterologous element inserted to enhance the level or tissue-specificity of a promoter. Promoters may be derived in their entirety from a native gene, or be composed of different elements derived from different promoters found in nature, or even comprise synthetic DNA segments. It is understood by those skilled in the art that different promoters may direct the expression of a gene in different tissues or cell types, or at different stages of development, or in response to different environmental or physiological conditions. It is further recognized that since in most cases the exact boundaries of regulatory sequences have not been completely defined, DNA fragments of some variation may have identical promoter activity. Promoters that cause a gene to be expressed in most cell types at most times are commonly referred to as “constitutive promoters”. New promoters of various types useful in plant cells are constantly being discovered; numerous examples may be found in the compilation by Okamuro, J. K., and Goldberg, R. B. Biochemistry of Plants, 15:1-82 (1989).

“Translation leader sequence” refers to a polynucleotide sequence located between the promoter sequence of a gene and the coding sequence. The translation leader sequence is present in the fully processed mRNA upstream of the translation start sequence. The translation leader sequence may affect processing of the primary transcript to mRNA, mRNA stability or translation efficiency. Examples of translation leader sequences have been described (Turner, R. and Foster, G. D., Mol. Biotechnol., 3:225-236 (1995)).

The terms “3′ non-coding sequences”, “transcription terminator” and “termination sequences” refer to DNA sequences located downstream of a coding sequence. This includes polyadenylation recognition sequences and other sequences encoding regulatory signals capable of affecting mRNA processing or gene expression. The polyadenylation signal is usually characterized by affecting the addition of polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3′ end of the mRNA precursor. The 3′ region can influence the transcription, RNA processing or stability, or translation of the associated coding sequence. The use of different 3′ non-coding sequences is exemplified by Ingelbrecht, I. L., et al. (Plant Cell, 1:671-680 (1989)).

“RNA transcript” refers to the product resulting from RNA polymerase-catalyzed transcription of a DNA sequence. When the RNA transcript is a perfect complementary copy of the DNA sequence, it is referred to as the primary transcript. A RNA transcript is referred to as the mature RNA when it is a RNA sequence derived from post-transcriptional processing of the primary transcript. “Messenger RNA” or “mRNA” refers to the RNA that is without introns and that can be translated into protein by the cell. “cDNA” refers to a DNA that is complementary to, and synthesized from, a mRNA template using the enzyme reverse transcriptase. The cDNA can be single-stranded or converted into double-stranded form using the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I. “Sense” RNA refers to RNA transcript that includes the mRNA and can be translated into protein within a cell or in vitro. “Antisense RNA” refers to a RNA transcript that is complementary to all or part of a target primary transcript or mRNA, and that blocks the expression of a target gene (U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,065; WO 99/28508). The complementarity of an antisense RNA may be with any part of the specific gene transcript, i.e., at the 5′ non-coding sequence, 3′ non-coding sequence, introns, or the coding sequence. “Functional RNA” refers to antisense RNA, ribozyme RNA, or other RNA that may not be translated but yet has an effect on cellular processes. The terms “complement” and “reverse complement” are used interchangeably herein with respect to mRNA transcripts, and are meant to define the antisense RNA of the message.

The term “operably linked” refers to the association of nucleic acid sequences on a single nucleic acid fragment so that the function of one is regulated by the other. For example, a promoter is operably linked with a coding sequence when it is capable of affecting the expression of that coding sequence (i.e., the coding sequence is under the transcriptional control of the promoter). Coding sequences can be operably linked to regulatory sequences in a sense or antisense orientation.

The terms “plasmid”, “vector” and “cassette” refer to an extra chromosomal element often carrying genes that are not part of the central metabolism of the cell, and usually in the form of circular double-stranded DNA fragments. Such elements may be autonomously replicating sequences, genome integrating sequences, phage or nucleotide sequences, linear or circular, of a single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA, derived from any source, in which a number of nucleotide sequences have been joined or recombined into a unique construction which is capable of introducing a promoter fragment and DNA sequence for a selected gene product along with appropriate 3′ untranslated sequence into a cell. “Expression cassette” refers to a specific vector containing a foreign gene and having elements in addition to the foreign gene that allow for enhanced expression of that gene in a foreign host.

The terms “recombinant construct”, “expression construct”, “chimeric construct”, “construct”, and “recombinant DNA construct” are used interchangeably herein. A recombinant construct comprises an artificial combination of nucleic acid fragments, e.g., regulatory and coding sequences that are not found together in nature. For example, a chimeric construct may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived from the same source, but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature. Such a construct may be used by itself or may be used in conjunction with a vector. If a vector is used, then the choice of vector is dependent upon the method that will be used to transform host cells as is well known to those skilled in the art. For example, a plasmid vector can be used. The skilled artisan is well aware of the genetic elements that must be present on the vector in order to successfully transform, select and propagate host cells comprising any of the isolated nucleic acid fragments of the invention. The skilled artisan will also recognize that different independent transformation events will result in different levels and patterns of expression (Jones et al., EMBO J. 4:2411-2418 (1985); De Almeida et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 218:78-86 (1989)), and thus that multiple events must be screened in order to obtain strains or lines displaying the desired expression level and pattern. Such screening may be accomplished by Southern analysis of DNA blots (Southern, J. Mol. Biol., 98:503 (1975)), Northern analysis of mRNA expression (Kroczek, J. Chromatogr. Biomed. Appl., 618 (1-2):133-145 (1993)), Western and/or Elisa analyses of protein expression, phenotypic analysis or GC analysis of the PUFA products, among others.

The term “expression”, as used herein, refers to the transcription and stable accumulation of sense (mRNA) or antisense RNA derived from the nucleic acid fragments of the invention. Expression may also refer to translation of mRNA into a polypeptide.

“Mature” protein refers to a post-translationally processed polypeptide (i.e., one from which any pre- or propeptides present in the primary translation product have been removed). “Precursor” protein refers to the primary product of translation of mRNA (i.e., with pre- and propeptides still present). Pre- and propeptides may be, but are not limited to, intracellular localization signals.

“Transformation” refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid fragment into a genome of a host organism, including both nuclear and organellar genomes, resulting in genetically stable inheritance. In contrast, “transient transformation” refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid fragment into the nucleus, or DNA-containing organelle, of a host organism resulting in gene expression without integration or stable inheritance. Thus, the nucleic acid molecule used for transformation may be a plasmid that replicates autonomously, for example, or, it may integrate into the genome of the host organism. Host organisms containing the transformed nucleic acid fragments are referred to as “transgenic” or “recombinant” or “transformed” organisms.

As used herein, “transgenic” refers to a plant or a cell which comprises within its genome a heterologous polynucleotide. Preferably, the heterologous polynucleotide is stably integrated within the genome such that the polynucleotide is passed on to successive generations. The heterologous polynucleotide may be integrated into the genome alone or as part of an expression construct. Transgenic is used herein to include any cell, cell line, callus, tissue, plant part or plant, the genotype of which has been altered by the presence of heterologous nucleic acid including those transgenics initially so altered as well as those created by sexual crosses or asexual propagation from the initial transgenic. The term “transgenic” as used herein does not encompass the alteration of the genome (chromosomal or extra-chromosomal) by conventional plant breeding methods or by naturally occurring events such as random cross-fertilization, non-recombinant viral infection, non-recombinant bacterial transformation, non-recombinant transposition, or spontaneous mutation.

The term “plant” refers to whole plants, plant organs, plant tissues, seeds, plant cells, seeds and progeny of the same. Plant cells include, without limitation, cells from seeds, suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, leaves, roots, shoots, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen and microspores.

“Progeny” comprises any subsequent generation of a plant.

“Antisense inhibition” refers to the production of antisense RNA transcripts capable of suppressing the expression of the target protein. “Co-suppression” refers to the production of sense RNA transcripts capable of suppressing the expression of identical or substantially similar foreign or endogenous genes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,020). Co-suppression constructs in plants previously have been designed by focusing on overexpression of a nucleic acid sequence having homology to an endogenous mRNA, in the sense orientation, which results in the reduction of all RNA having homology to the overexpressed sequence (Vaucheret et al., Plant J., 16:651-659 (1998); Gura, Nature, 404:804-808 (2000)). The overall efficiency of this phenomenon is low, and the extent of the RNA reduction is widely variable. Subsequent work has described the use of “hairpin” structures that incorporate all, or part, of a mRNA encoding sequence in a complementary orientation that results in a potential “stem-loop” structure for the expressed RNA (WO 99/53050; WO 02/00904). This increases the frequency of co-suppression in the recovered transgenic plants. Another variation describes the use of plant viral sequences to direct the suppression, or “silencing”, of proximal mRNA encoding sequences (WO 98/36083). Both of these co-suppressing phenomena have not been elucidated mechanistically, although genetic evidence has begun to unravel this complex situation (Elmayan et al., Plant Cell, 10:1747-1757 (1998)).

The term “oleaginous” refers to those organisms that tend to store their energy source in the form of lipid (Weete, In: Fungal Lipid Biochemistry, 2^(nd) Ed., Plenum, 1980). Generally, the cellular oil or TAG content of these microorganisms follows a sigmoid curve, wherein the concentration of lipid increases until it reaches a maximum at the late logarithmic or early stationary growth phase and then gradually decreases during the late stationary and death phases (Yongmanitchai and Ward, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 57:419-25 (1991)).

The term “oleaginous yeast” refers to those microorganisms classified as yeasts that can make oil. It is not uncommon for oleaginous microorganisms to accumulate in excess of about 25% of their dry cell weight as oil. Examples of oleaginous yeast include, but are no means limited to, the following genera: Yarrowia, Candida, Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Lipomyces.

The term “percent identity”, as known in the art, is a relationship between two or more polypeptide sequences or two or more polynucleotide sequences, as determined by comparing the sequences. In the art, “identity” also means the degree of sequence relatedness between polypeptide or polynucleotide sequences, as the case may be, as determined by the match between strings of such sequences. “Identity” and “similarity” can be readily calculated by known methods, including but not limited to those described in: 1.) Computational Molecular Biology (Lesk, A. M., Ed.) Oxford University: NY (1988); 2.) Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects (Smith, D. W., Ed.) Academic: NY (1993); 3.) Computer Analysis of Sequence Data, Part I (Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., Eds.) Humania: NJ (1994); 4.) Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology (von Heinje, G., Ed.) Academic (1987); and 5.) Sequence Analysis Primer (Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., Eds.) Stockton: NY (1991). Preferred methods to determine identity are designed to give the best match between the sequences tested. Methods to determine identity and similarity are codified in publicly available computer programs.

The “Clustal V method of alignment” corresponds to the alignment method labeled Clustal V (described by Higgins and Sharp, CABIOS. 5:151-153 (1989); Higgins, D. G. et al. (1992) Comput. Appl. Biosci. 8:189-191) and found in the MegAlign™ program of the LASERGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.). Sequence alignments and percent identity calculations may be performed using the MegAlign™ program. Multiple alignment of the sequences is performed using the Clustal method of alignment (Higgins and Sharp, CABIOS, 5:151153 (1989); Higgins, D. G. et al., Comput. Appl. Biosci., 8:189-191 (1992)) with default parameters (GAP PENALTY=10, GAP LENGTH PENALTY=10), unless otherwise specified. Default parameters for pairwise alignments and calculation of percent identity of protein sequences using the Clustal V method are: KTUPLE 1, GAP PENALTY=3, WINDOW=5 and DIAGONALS SAVED=5. After alignment of the sequences using the Clustal program, it is possible to obtain a “percent identity” by viewing the “sequence distances” table in the same program.

The “Clustal W method of alignment” corresponds to the alignment method labeled Clustal W (described by Thompson et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 22:4673-4680 (1994)) and found in the MegAlign™ v5.07 program of the LASERGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.). Default parameters for multiple alignments and calculation of percent identity of protein sequences are GAP PENALTY=10, GAP LENGTH PENALTY=0.2, DELAY DIVERGENCE SEQS (%)=30, DNA TRANSITION WEIGHT=0.50, protein weight matrix=Gonnet series and DNA weight matrix=IUB, unless otherwise specified. Default parameters for pairwise alignments and calculation of percent identity of protein sequences are GAP PENALTY=10, GAP LENGTH PENALTY=0.1, protein weight matrix=Gonnet 250 and DNA weight matrix=IUB, unless otherwise specified.

“BLASTN method of alignment” is an algorithm provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) to compare nucleotide sequences using default parameters.

It is well understood by one skilled in the art that many levels of sequence identity are useful in identifying polypeptides, from other species, wherein such polypeptides have the same or similar function or activity. Useful examples of percent identities include, but are not limited to, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95%, or any integer percentage from 50% to 100%. Indeed, any integer amino acid identity from 50% to 100% may be useful in describing the present invention, such as 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%. Also, of interest is any full-length or partial complement of this isolated nucleotide fragment.

The term “sequence analysis software” refers to any computer algorithm or software program that is useful for the analysis of nucleotide or amino acid sequences. “Sequence analysis software” may be commercially available or independently developed. Typical sequence analysis software will include, but is not limited to: (1) the GCG suite of programs (Wisconsin Package Version 9.0, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), Madison, Wis.); (2) BLASTP, BLASTN, BLASTX (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol., 215:403-410 (1990)); (3) DNASTAR (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.); (4) Sequencher (Gene Codes Corporation, Ann Arbor, Mich.); and (5) the FASTA program incorporating the Smith-Waterman algorithm (W. R. Pearson, Comput. Methods Genome Res., [Proc. Int. Symp.] (1994), Meeting Date 1992, 111-20. Editor(s): Suhai, Sandor. Plenum: New York, N.Y.). Within the context of this application it will be understood that where sequence analysis software is used for analysis, that the results of the analysis will be based on the “default values” of the program referenced, unless otherwise specified. As used herein “default values” will mean any set of values or parameters that originally load with the software when first initialized.

Suitable nucleic acid fragments (isolated polynucleotides of the present invention) encode polypeptides that are at least about 85% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. More preferred nucleic acid fragments encode amino acid sequences that are at least about 90% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein while most preferred are nucleic acid fragments that encode amino acid sequences that are at least about 95% identical. It is well understood by one skilled in the art that many levels of sequence identity are useful in identifying polypeptides from other species, wherein such polypeptides have the same or similar function or activity; although preferred ranges are described above, any integer percentage from 85% to 100% is useful for the purposes herein.

Suitable nucleic acid fragments not only have the above homologies but typically encode a polypeptide having at least 50 amino acids, preferably at least 100 amino acids, more preferably at least 150 amino acids, still more preferably at least 200 amino acids, and most preferably at least 250 amino acids.

Standard recombinant DNA and molecular cloning techniques used herein are well known in the art and are described more fully in Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989) (hereinafter “Maniatis”); by Silhavy, T. J., Bennan, M. L. and Enquist, L. W., Experiments with Gene Fusions, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1984); and by Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, published by Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley-Interscience (1987).

An Overview Biosynthesis of Omega Fatty Acids and Triacylglycerols

The metabolic process wherein oleic acid is converted to omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids involves elongation of the carbon chain through the addition of carbon atoms and desaturation of the molecule through the addition of double bonds. This requires a series of special desaturation and elongation enzymes present in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. However, as seen in FIG. 1 and as described below, there are often multiple alternate pathways for production of a specific omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid.

Specifically, all pathways require the initial conversion of oleic acid to LA, the first of the omega-6 fatty acids, by a delta-12 desaturase. Then, using the “delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway”, omega-6 fatty acids are formed as follows: (1) LA is converted to EDA by a delta-9 elongase; (2) EDA is converted to DGLA by a delta-8 desaturase; and (3) DGLA is converted to ARA by a delta-5 desaturase. Alternatively, the “delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway” can be utilized for formation of omega-3 fatty acids as follows: (1) LA is converted to ALA, the first of the omega-3 fatty acids, by a delta-15 desaturase; (2) ALA is converted to ETrA by a delta-9 elongase; (3) ETrA is converted to ETA by a delta-8 desaturase; (4) ETA is converted to EPA by a delta-5 desaturase; (5) EPA is converted to DPA by a C_(20/22) elongase; and (6) DPA is converted to DHA by a delta-4 desaturase. Optionally, omega-6 fatty acids may be converted to omega-3 fatty acids; for example, ETA and EPA are produced from DGLA and ARA, respectively, by delta-17 desaturase activity.

Alternate pathways for the biosynthesis of omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids utilize a delta-6 desaturase and C_(18/20) elongase (i.e., the “delta-6 desaturase/delta-6 elongase pathway”). More specifically, LA and ALA may be converted to GLA and STA, respectively, by a delta-6 desaturase; then, a C_(18/20) elongase converts GLA to DGLA and/or STA to ETA.

It is contemplated that the particular functionalities required to be expressed in a specific host organism for production of omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids will depend on the host cell (and its native PUFA profile and/or desaturase/elongase profile), the availability of substrate, and the desired end product(s). For example, expression of the delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway may be preferred in some embodiments, as opposed to expression of the delta-6 desaturase/delta-6 elongase pathway, since PUFAs produced via the former pathway are devoid of GLA.

One skilled in the art will be able to identify various candidate genes encoding each of the enzymes desired for omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid biosynthesis. Useful desaturase and elongase sequences may be derived from any source, e.g., isolated from a natural source (from bacteria, algae, fungi, plants, animals, etc.), produced via a semi-synthetic route or synthesized de novo. Although the particular source of the desaturase and elongase genes introduced into the host is not critical, considerations for choosing a specific polypeptide having desaturase or elongase activity include: 1.) the substrate specificity of the polypeptide; 2.) whether the polypeptide or a component thereof is a rate-limiting enzyme; 3.) whether the desaturase or elongase is essential for synthesis of a desired PUFA; and/or 4.) co-factors required by the polypeptide. The expressed polypeptide preferably has parameters compatible with the biochemical environment of its location in the host cell (see WO 2004/101757).

In additional embodiments, it will also be useful to consider the conversion efficiency of each particular desaturase and/or elongase. More specifically, since each enzyme rarely functions with 100% efficiency to convert substrate to product, the final lipid profile of un-purified oils produced in a host cell will typically be a mixture of various PUFAs consisting of the desired omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid, as well as various upstream intermediary PUFAs. Thus, consideration of each enzyme's conversion efficiency is also an important variable when optimizing biosynthesis of a desired fatty acid that must be considered in light of the final desired lipid profile of the product.

With each of the considerations above in mind, candidate genes having the appropriate desaturase and elongase activities (e.g., delta-6 desaturases, C_(18/20) elongases, delta-5 desaturases, delta-17 desaturases, delta-15 desaturases, delta-9 desaturases, delta-12 desaturases, C_(14/16) elongases, C_(16/18) elongases, delta-9 elongases, delta-8 desaturases, delta-4 desaturases and C_(20/22) elongases) can be identified according to publicly available literature (e.g., GenBank), the patent literature, and experimental analysis of organisms having the ability to produce PUFAs. These genes will be suitable for introduction into a specific host organism, to enable or enhance the organism's synthesis of PUFAs.

Once fatty acids are synthesized within an organism (including saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and short-chain and long-chain fatty acids), they may be incorporated into triacylglycerides (TAGs). TAGs (the primary storage unit for fatty acids, including PUFAs) are formed by a series of reactions that involve: 1.) the esterification of one molecule of acyl-CoA to glycerol-3-phosphate via an acyltransferase to produce lysophosphatidic acid; 2.) the esterification of a second molecule of acyl-CoA via an acyltransferase to yield 1,2-diacylglycerol phosphate (commonly identified as phosphatidic acid); 3.) removal of a phosphate by phosphatidic acid phosphatase to yield 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG); and 4.) the addition of a third fatty acid by the action of an acyltransferase to form TAG.

Sequence Identification of a Euglena qracilis Delta-8 Desaturase

Commonly owned WO 2006/012325 and WO 2006/012326 disclose a Euglena gracilis delta-8 desaturase able ability to desaturate EDA and EtrA (identified therein as “Eg5 and assigned SEQ ID NO:2). In the present application, the Euglena gracilis delta-8 desaturase described as “EgD8” (SEQ ID NOs:11 and 12 herein) is 100% identical and equivalent to the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of Eg5.

As is well known in the art, codon-optimization can be a useful means to further optimize the expression of an enzyme in an alternate host, since use of host-preferred codons can substantially enhance the expression of the foreign gene encoding the polypeptide. As such, a synthetic delta-8 desaturase derived from Euglena gracilis and codon-optimized for expression in Yarrowia lipolytica was also disclosed in WO 2006/012325 and WO 2006/012326 as SEQ ID NOs:112 and 113 (designated therein as “D8SF”). Specifically, 207 bp (16.4%) of the 1263 bp coding region were modified, corresponding to codon-optimization of 192 codons. Additionally, “D8SF” had one additional valine amino acid inserted between amino acid residues 1 and 2 of the wildtype Eg5; thus, the total length of the codon-optimized desaturase is 422 amino acids. Expression of the codon-optimized gene (i.e., “D8SF”) in Y. lipolytica demonstrated more efficient desaturation of EDA to DGLA and/or ETrA to ETA than the wildtype gene (i.e., Eg5). In the present application, the synthetic delta-8 desaturase derived from Euglena gracilis and codon-optimized for expression in Y. lipolytica described as “EgD8S” (SEQ ID NOs:9 and 10 herein) is 100% identical and equivalent to the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of D8SF.

Engineering Targeted Mutations within the Synthetic Delta-8 Desaturase, Derived from Euglena gracilis and Codon-Optimized for Expression in Yarrowia lipolytica

Methods for synthesizing sequences and bringing sequences together are well established in the literature. Many techniques are commonly employed in the literature to obtain mutations of naturally occurring desaturase genes (wherein such mutations may include deletions, insertions and point mutations, or combinations thereof). This would permit production of a polypeptide having desaturase activity, respectively, in vivo with more desirable physical and kinetic parameters for function in the host cell such as a longer half-life or a higher rate of production of a desired PUFA. Or, if desired, the regions of a polypeptide of interest (i.e., a desaturase) important for enzymatic activity can be determined through routine mutagenesis, expression of the resulting mutant polypeptides and determination of their activities. All such mutant proteins and nucleotide sequences encoding them that are derived from the wildtype (i.e., SEQ ID NOs:11 and 12) and synthetic codon-optimized (SEQ ID NOs:9 and 10) delta-8 desaturase described supra are within the scope of the present invention.

More specifically in the invention herein, mutant sequences encoding delta-8 desaturases were synthetically engineered, by making targeted mutations within the known, functional Euglena gracilis delta-8 desaturase that was codon-optimized for expression in Yarrowia lipolytica (i.e., “EgD8S”, as set forth in SEQ ID NOs:9 and 10). The effect of each mutation on the delta-8 desaturase activity of the resulting mutant EgD8S was screened. Although not to be construed as limiting to the invention herein, a mutant EgD8S enzyme (SEQ ID NO:2) was ultimately created comprising at least one amino acid mutation (and up to about 33 amino acid mutations) with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S and having functionally equivalent delta-8 desaturase activity, using the methodology described below.

Creation of a Topological Model and Identification of Suitable Amino Acid Sites for Mutation

General characteristics of delta-8 desaturases, based on desaturase evolution, are well-described by P. Sperling et al. (Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids, 68:73-95 (2003)). Along with delta-6, delta-5 and delta-4 desaturases, delta-8 desaturases are known as long-chain PUFA “front-end” desaturases (wherein desaturation occurs between a pre-existing double bond and the carboxyl terminus of the fatty acid's acyl group, as opposed to methyl-directed desaturation). These desaturases are characterized by three histidine boxes [H(X)₃₋₄H (SEQ ID NOs:166 and 167), H(X)₂₋₃HH (SEQ ID NOs:168 and 169) and H/Q(X)₂₋₃HH (SEQ ID NOs:170 and 171)] and are members of the cytochrome b₅ fusion superfamily, since they possess a fused cytochrome b₅ domain at their N-terminus which serves as an electron donor. The cytochrome b₅ domain also contains an absolutely conserved heme-binding motif (i.e., “HPGG”) which has been shown to be necessary for enzyme activity (J. A. Napier, et al., Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids, 68:135-143 (2003); P. Sperling, et al., supra). Finally, although the crystal structure of a “front-end” desaturase is not yet available, hydropathy plots reveal 4-6 membrane spanning helices that account for nearly 30% of the amino acid sequence of these proteins.

Based on the generalizations above, the protein sequence of EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10) was specifically analyzed to enable creation of a topological model (FIG. 2). As expected, EgD8S contained two domains: an N-terminal cytochrome b₅ domain (located between amino acid residues 5 to 71 of SEQ ID NO:10) and a C-terminal desaturase domain (located between amino acid residues 79 to 406 of SEQ ID NO:10). Four membrane-spanning helices were identified at amino acid residues 88-109, 113-132, 266-283 and 287-309 of SEQ ID NO:10 (labeled as regions I, II, III and IV on FIG. 2), with both the N- and C-termini located on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Two additional hydrophobic regions were located at amino acid residues 157-172 and 223-245. Finally, the three histidine boxes were located between amino acid residues 146-150, 183-187 and 358-362, and the conserved heme-binding motif (“HPGG”) was located at amino acid residues 27-30.

Using the topological model, alignment of EgD8S with other front-end desaturases and alignment of EgD8S's cytochrome b₅ domain with other cytochrome b₅ genes, 70 sites within EgD8S were subsequently selected as possibly suitable for mutagenesis (criteria for selection are described in detail in Example 2). These sites corresponded to 126 individual amino acid mutations (i.e., 57.9% conserved amino acid substitutions and 42.1% non-conserved amino acid substitutions), as detailed in Table 7 of Example 2.

Site-Directed Mutagenesis for Creation of EgD8S Mutants

Although a variety of approaches may be used for mutagenesis of a delta-8 desaturase enzyme, based on the strategies herein it was desirable to create specific point mutations within EgD8S using oligonucleotide-mediated site-directed mutagenesis. Furthermore, although numerous site-directed mutagenesis protocols exist (e.g., Ishii, T. M., et al., Methods Enzymol., 293:53-71 (1998); Ling M. M. and B. H. Robinson, Anal. Biochem., 254:157-178 (1997); Braman J. (ed.) In Vitro Mutagenesis Protocols. 2^(nd) Ed., Humania: Totowa, N.J. (2002); Kunkel T. A., et al., Methods Enzymol., 154:367-382 (1987); Sawano A. and Miyawaki, A. Nucleic Acids Res., 28:e78 (2000)), the QuikChange® site-directed mutagenesis kit (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) was selected for use based on its facile implementation and high efficiency. Specifically, the kit requires no specialized vectors, unique restriction sites, or multiple transformations and allows site-specific mutation in virtually any double-stranded plasmid. The basic procedure utilizes a supercoiled double-stranded DNA vector with an insert of interest and two synthetic oligonucleotide primers containing the desired mutation. The oligonucleotide primers, each complementary to opposite strands of the vector, are extended during temperature cycling by a DNA polymerase. Incorporation of the oligonucleotide primers generates a mutated plasmid containing staggered nicks. Following temperature cycling, the product is treated with Dpn I endonuclease (specific for methylated and hemi-methylated DNA) as a means to digest the parental DNA template and to select for newly synthesized mutant DNA. The nicked vector DNA containing the desired mutations is then transformed and propagated in an Escherichia coli host.

Using the techniques described above, the feasibility of engineering a synthetic EgD8S (having multiple point mutations with respect to EgD8S but maintaining functional equivalence with respect to the enzyme's delta-8 desaturase activity) was then tested. Specifically, selected individual point mutations were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis into EgD8S (within a plasmid construct comprising a chimeric FBAINm::EgD8S::XPR gene), transformed into E. coli, and then screened for delta-8 desaturase activity based on GC analyses.

The skilled person will be able to envision additional screens for the selection of genes encoding proteins having delta-8 desaturase activity. For example, desaturase activity may be demonstrated by assays in which a preparation containing an enzyme is incubated with a suitable form of substrate fatty acid and analyzed for conversion of this substrate to the predicted fatty acid product. Alternatively, a DNA sequence proposed to encode a desaturase protein may be incorporated into a suitable vector construct and thereby expressed in cells of a type that do not normally have an ability to desaturate a particular fatty acid substrate. Activity of the desaturase enzyme encoded by the DNA sequence can then be demonstrated by supplying a suitable form of substrate fatty acid to cells transformed with a vector containing the desaturase-encoding DNA sequence and to suitable control cells (e.g., transformed with the empty vector alone). In such an experiment, detection of the predicted fatty acid product in cells containing the desaturase-encoding DNA sequence and not in control cells establishes the desaturase activity.

Results from the experiment described above resulted in the identification of some mutations that resulted in completely non-functional mutant delta-8 desaturases having 0% delta-8 desaturase activity (e.g., simultaneous mutation of 48V to F and 49M to L or simultaneous mutation of 304G to F and 305F to G). Despite this, ˜75% of the individual mutations tested did not significantly diminish the mutant enzyme's delta-8 desaturase activity as compared to the delta-8 desaturase activity of EgD8S. More specifically, the following mutations were identified as preferred mutations, wherein delta-8 desaturase activity was functionally equivalent (i.e., 100%) or greater than that of EgD8S (i.e., SEQ ID NO:10):

TABLE 4 Initial Preferred Mutations Within EgD8S Sequence Mutations With Mutation Respect to EgD8S % Site (SEQ ID NO: 10) Activity* M3 16T to K, 17T to V 100% M8 66P to Q, 67S to A 100% M12 407A to S, 408V to Q 100% M14 416Q to V, 417P to Y 100% M16 108S to L 100% M19 122V to S 100% M38 54A to G, 55F to Y 100% M39 64I to L, 65N to D 100% M40 69E to D, 70L to V 100% M41 75A to G, 76V to L 100% M45 117G to A, 118Y to F 100% M46 132V to L, 133L to V 100% M49 297F to V, 298V to L 100% M50 309I to V, 310V to I 100% M51 347I to L, 348T to S 100% M51B 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S 100% M53 9L to V 100% M54 19D to E, 20V to I 100% M58 65N to Q 100% M63 279T to L, 280L to T 100% M68 162L to V, 163V to L 100% M69 170G to A, 171L to V 100% M70 418A to G, 419G to A 100% M2 12T to V 110% M22 127Y to Q 110% M26 293L to M 110% M6 59K to L 110% M1 4S to A, 5K to S 115% M21 125Q to H, 126M to L 120% M15 422L to Q 125% *“% Activity” refers to the delta-8 desaturase activity of each mutant EgD8S with respect to the delta-8 desaturase activity of EgD8S, as set forth as SEQ ID N0: 10.

It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the useful mutant delta-8 desaturases of the present invention are not limited to the 30 mutation combinations described above. For example, although the mutation site described as M3 includes two specific amino acid mutations (i.e., 16T to K and 17T to V), one skilled in the art will expect that a single mutation of either 16T to K or 17T to V will have utility in the design of a mutant delta-8 desaturase whose delta-8 desaturase activity is at least about functionally equivalent to the delta-8 desaturase activity of the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S. Thus, in actuality, Table 4 presents 52 single amino acid mutations that are useful for the purposes herein, in the design of a mutant delta-8 desaturase having delta-8 desaturase activity that is at least about functionally equivalent to the delta-8 desaturase activity of SEQ ID NO:10.

Based on the results above, experimental work was continued in an effort to “stack” appropriate individual amino acid mutations within the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S sequence. This resulted in creation of a mutant delta-8 desaturase as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 having “n” amino acid mutations, wherein “n” is any integer from 1 to 33 inclusive (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33), and having delta-8 desaturase activity comparable to that of EgD8S. Specifically, SEQ ID NO:2 comprises at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of: 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 132V to L, 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 279T to L, 280L to T, 293L to M, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A and 422L to Q, wherein the mutations are defined with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized sequence of EgD8S (i.e., SEQ ID NO:10); wherein SEQ ID NO:2 is not 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:10; and wherein the mutant EgD8S is at least about functionally equivalent to EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10). It will be appreciated by the skilled person that each of the above mutations can be used in any combination with one another. And, all such mutant proteins and nucleotide sequences encoding them that are derived from EgD8 and/or EgD8S as described herein are within the scope of the present invention.

In more preferred embodiments, the mutant EgD8S has at least about 10-18 conservative and non-conservative amino acid substitutions (i.e., mutations) with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized sequence of EgD8S, more preferably at least about 19-25 conservative and non-conservative amino acid substitutions, and most preferably at least about 26-33 conservative and non-conservative amino acid substitutions with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized sequence of EgD8S (i.e., SEQ ID NO:10). Thus, for example, in one preferred embodiment mutant EgD8S-23 (SEQ ID NO:4) comprises the following 24 amino acid mutations with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:10: 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 132V to L, 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 293L to M, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A and 422L to Q. Pairwise alignment of the mutant EgD8S-23 amino acid sequence to the synthetic codon-optimized sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 using default parameters of Vector NTI®'s AlignX program (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) revealed 94.3% sequence identity and 97.9% consensus between the two proteins over a length of 422 amino acids.

In another preferred embodiment, mutant EgD8S-013 (SEQ ID NO:6) comprises the following 28 amino acid mutations with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:10: 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 132V to L, 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 293L to M, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A and 422L to Q. Pairwise alignment of the mutant EgD8S-013 amino acid sequence to the synthetic codon-optimized sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 using default parameters of Vector NTI®'s AlignX program revealed 93.4% sequence identity and 97.9% consensus between the two proteins over a length of 422 amino acids.

In another preferred embodiment, mutant EgD8S-015 (SEQ ID NO:8) comprises the following 31 amino acid mutations with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:10: 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 293L to M, 279T to L, 280L to T, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A and 422L to Q. Pairwise alignment of the mutant EgD8S-015 amino acid sequence to the synthetic codon-optimized sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 using default parameters of Vector NTI®'s AlignX program revealed 92.7% sequence identity and 97.4% consensus between the two proteins over a length of 422 amino acids.

Thus, in one embodiment, the present invention concerns an isolated polynucleotide comprising:

-   -   (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant polypeptide having         delta-8 desaturase activity, wherein the mutant polypeptide has         an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, wherein:         -   (i) SEQ ID NO:2 comprises at least one mutation             -   selected from the group consisting of: 4S to A, 5K to S,                 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 66P to                 Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 120L to M,                 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 132V to L, 133L to V,                 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 279T to L,                 280L to T, 293L to M, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S,                 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A and 422L to                 Q, wherein the mutations are defined with respect to the                 synthetic codon-optimized sequence of EgD8S (i.e., SEQ                 ID NO:10); and,         -   (ii) SEQ ID NO:2 is not identical to SEQ ID NO:10; or,     -   (b) a complement of the nucleotide sequence, wherein the         complement and the nucleotide sequence consist of the same         number of nucleotides and are 100% complementary.         In further preferred embodiments, the delta-8 desaturase         activity of SEQ ID NO:2, as described above, is at least about         functionally equivalent to the delta-8 desaturase activity of         SEQ ID NO:10.         Alternate Means of Mutagenesis for Creation of EgD8S Mutants

As is well known to one of skill in the art, in vitro mutagenesis and selection or error prone PCR (Leung et al., Techniques, 1:11-15 (1989); Zhou et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 19:6052-6052 (1991); Spee et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 21:777-778 (1993); Melnikov et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 27(4):1056-1062 (Feb. 15, 1999)) could also be employed as a means to obtain mutations of naturally occurring desaturase genes, such as EgD8 or EgD8S, wherein the mutations may include deletions, insertions and point mutations, or combinations thereof. The principal advantage of error-prone PCR is that all mutations introduced by this method will be within the desired desaturase gene, and any change may be easily controlled by changing the PCR conditions. Alternatively, in vivo mutagenesis may be employed using commercially available materials such as the E. coli XL1-Red strain and Epicurian coli XL1-Red mutator strain from Stratagene (La Jolla, Calif.; Greener and Callahan, Strategies, 7:32-34 (1994)). This strain is deficient in three of the primary DNA repair pathways (mutS, mutD and mutT), resulting in a mutation rate 5000-fold higher than that of wild-type. In vivo mutagenesis does not depend on ligation efficiency (as with error-prone PCR); however, a mutation may occur at any region of the vector and the mutation rates are generally much lower.

In other embodiments, it is contemplated that a mutant delta-8 desaturase enzyme with altered or enhanced delta-8 desaturase activity may be constructed using the method of “gene shuffling” (U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,793; U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,238; U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,721; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,458). The method of gene shuffling is particularly attractive due to its facile implementation and high rate of mutagenesis. The process of gene shuffling involves the restriction of a gene of interest into fragments of specific size in the presence of additional populations of DNA regions of both similarity to (or difference to) the gene of interest. This pool of fragments will then denature and reanneal to create a mutated gene. The mutated gene is then screened for altered activity.

Delta-8 desaturase sequences (i.e., wildtype, synthetic, codon-optimized or mutant) may be mutated and screened for altered or enhanced delta-8 desaturase activity by this method. The sequences should be double-stranded and can be of various lengths ranging from 50 bp to 10 kB. The sequences may be randomly digested into fragments ranging from about 10 bp to 1000 bp, using restriction endonucleases well known in the art (Maniatis, supra). In addition to the full-length sequences, populations of fragments that are hybridizable to all or portions of the sequence may be added. Similarly, a population of fragments that are not hybridizable to the wildtype sequence may also be added. Typically, these additional fragment populations are added in about a 10- to 20-fold excess by weight as compared to the total nucleic acid. Generally this process will allow generation of about 100 to 1000 different specific nucleic acid fragments in the mixture. The mixed population of random nucleic acid fragments are denatured to form single-stranded nucleic acid fragments and then reannealed. Only those single-stranded nucleic acid fragments having regions of homology with other single-stranded nucleic acid fragments will reanneal. The random nucleic acid fragments may be denatured by heating. One skilled in the art could determine the conditions necessary to completely denature the double-stranded nucleic acid, wherein the temperature is preferably from about 80° C. to about 100° C. The nucleic acid fragments may be reannealed by cooling, wherein the temperature is preferably from about 20° C. to about 75° C. Renaturation can be accelerated by the addition of polyethylene glycol (“PEG”) or salt, wherein the salt concentration is preferably from about 0 mM to about 200 mM. The annealed nucleic acid fragments are next incubated in the presence of a nucleic acid polymerase and dNTP's (i.e., dATP, dCTP, dGTP and dTTP). The nucleic acid polymerase may be the Klenow fragment, the Taq polymerase or any other DNA polymerase known in the art. The polymerase may be added to the random nucleic acid fragments prior to annealing, simultaneously with annealing or after annealing. The cycle of denaturation, renaturation and incubation in the presence of polymerase is repeated for a desired number of times. Preferably the cycle is repeated from 2 to 50 times, and more preferably the sequence is repeated from 10 to 40 times. The resulting nucleic acid is a larger double-stranded polynucleotide of from about 50 bp to about 100 kB and may be screened for expression and altered delta-8 desaturase activity by standard cloning and expression protocols (Maniatis, supra).

Irrespective of the method of mutagenesis, it is contemplated that a mutant delta-8 desaturase having delta-8 desaturase activity at least about functionally equivalent to that of EgD8 (SEQ ID NO:12) or EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10) may be evolved as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, wherein: (i) SEQ ID NO:2 comprises at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of: 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 132V to L, 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 279T to L, 280L to T, 293L to M, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A and 422L to Q, wherein the mutations are defined with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized sequence of EgD8S (i.e., SEQ ID NO:10); and, (ii) SEQ ID NO:2 is not 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:10. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the invention encompasses not only the specific mutations described above, but also those that allow for the substitution of chemically equivalent amino acids. So, for example, where a substitution of an amino acid with the aliphatic, nonpolar amino acid alanine is made, it will be expected that the same site may be substituted with the chemically equivalent amino acid serine.

In other embodiments, any of the delta-8 desaturase nucleic acid fragments described herein may be used for creation of new and improved fatty acid desaturases by domain swapping, wherein a functional domain from any of the delta-8 desaturase nucleic acid fragments is exchanged with a functional domain in an alternate desaturase gene to thereby result in a novel protein.

Identification and Isolation of Homologs

Any of the instant desaturase sequences (i.e., those mutants derived from EgD8 or EgD8S) or portions thereof may be used to search for delta-8 desaturase homologs in the same or other bacterial, algal, fungal, Oomycete or plant species using sequence analysis software. In general, such computer software matches similar sequences by assigning degrees of homology to various substitutions, deletions and other modifications.

Alternatively, any of the instant desaturase sequences or portions thereof may also be employed as hybridization reagents for the identification of delta-8 homologs. The basic components of a nucleic acid hybridization test include a probe, a sample suspected of containing the gene or gene fragment of interest and a specific hybridization method. Probes of the present invention are typically single-stranded nucleic acid sequences that are complementary to the nucleic acid sequences to be detected. Probes are “hybridizable” to the nucleic acid sequence to be detected. Although the probe length can vary from 5 bases to tens of thousands of bases, typically a probe length of about 15 bases to about 30 bases is suitable. Only part of the probe molecule need be complementary to the nucleic acid sequence to be detected. In addition, the complementarity between the probe and the target sequence need not be perfect. Hybridization does occur between imperfectly complementary molecules with the result that a certain fraction of the bases in the hybridized region are not paired with the proper complementary base.

Hybridization methods are well defined. Typically the probe and sample must be mixed under conditions that will permit nucleic acid hybridization. This involves contacting the probe and sample in the presence of an inorganic or organic salt under the proper concentration and temperature conditions. The probe and sample nucleic acids must be in contact for a long enough time that any possible hybridization between the probe and sample nucleic acid may occur. The concentration of probe or target in the mixture will determine the time necessary for hybridization to occur. The higher the probe or target concentration, the shorter the hybridization incubation time needed. Optionally, a chaotropic agent may be added (e.g., guanidinium chloride, guanidinium thiocyanate, sodium thiocyanate, lithium tetrachloroacetate, sodium perchlorate, rubidium tetrachloroacetate, potassium iodide, cesium trifluoroacetate). If desired, one can add formamide to the hybridization mixture, typically 30-50% (v/v).

Various hybridization solutions can be employed. Typically, these comprise from about 20 to 60% volume, preferably 30%, of a polar organic solvent. A common hybridization solution employs about 30-50% v/v formamide, about 0.15 to 1 M sodium chloride, about 0.05 to 0.1 M buffers (e.g., sodium citrate, Tris-HCl, PIPES or HEPES (pH range about 6-9)), about 0.05 to 0.2% detergent (e.g., sodium dodecylsulfate), or between 0.5-20 mM EDTA, FICOLL (Pharmacia, Inc.) (about 300-500 kdal), polyvinylpyrrolidone (about 250-500 kdal), and serum albumin. Also included in the typical hybridization solution will be unlabeled carrier nucleic acids from about 0.1 to 5 mg/mL, fragmented nucleic DNA (e.g., calf thymus or salmon sperm DNA, or yeast RNA), and optionally from about 0.5 to 2% wt/vol glycine. Other additives may also be included, such as volume exclusion agents that include a variety of polar water-soluble or swellable agents (e.g., polyethylene glycol), anionic polymers (e.g., polyacrylate or polymethylacrylate) and anionic saccharidic polymers (e.g., dextran sulfate).

Nucleic acid hybridization is adaptable to a variety of assay formats. One of the most suitable is the sandwich assay format. The sandwich assay is particularly adaptable to hybridization under non-denaturing conditions. A primary component of a sandwich-type assay is a solid support. The solid support has adsorbed to it or covalently coupled to it immobilized nucleic acid probe that is unlabeled and complementary to one portion of the sequence.

In additional embodiments, any of the delta-8 desaturase nucleic acid fragments described herein (or any homologs identified thereof) may be used to isolate genes encoding homologous proteins from the same or other bacterial, algal, fungal, Oomycete or plant species. Isolation of homologous genes using sequence-dependent protocols is well known in the art. Examples of sequence-dependent protocols include, but are not limited to: 1.) methods of nucleic acid hybridization; 2.) methods of DNA and RNA amplification, as exemplified by various uses of nucleic acid amplification technologies [e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Mullis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202; ligase chain reaction (LCR), Tabor, S. et al., Proc. Acad. Sci. USA, 82:1074 (1985); or strand displacement amplification (SDA), Walker, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:392 (1992)]; and 3.) methods of library construction and screening by complementation.

For example, genes encoding similar proteins or polypeptides to the delta-8 desaturases described herein could be isolated directly by using all or a portion of the instant nucleic acid fragments as DNA hybridization probes to screen libraries from e.g., any desired marine euglenoid, yeast or fungus using methodology well known to those skilled in the art (wherein those organisms producing EDA or ETrA [or derivatives thereof] would be preferred). Specific oligonucleotide probes based upon the instant nucleic acid sequences can be designed and synthesized by methods known in the art (Maniatis, supra). Moreover, the entire sequences can be used directly to synthesize DNA probes by methods known to the skilled artisan (e.g., random primers DNA labeling, nick translation or end-labeling techniques), or RNA probes using available in vitro transcription systems. In addition, specific primers can be designed and used to amplify a part of (or full-length of) the instant sequences. The resulting amplification products can be labeled directly during amplification reactions or labeled after amplification reactions, and used as probes to isolate full-length DNA fragments under conditions of appropriate stringency.

Typically, in PCR-type amplification techniques, the primers have different sequences and are not complementary to each other. Depending on the desired test conditions, the sequences of the primers should be designed to provide for both efficient and faithful replication of the target nucleic acid. Methods of PCR primer design are common and well known in the art (Thein and Wallace, “The use of oligonucleotide as specific hybridization probes in the Diagnosis of Genetic Disorders”, in Human Genetic Diseases: A Practical Approach, K. E. Davis Ed., (1986) pp 33-50, IRL: Herndon, Va.; and Rychlik, W., In Methods in Molecular Biology, White, B. A. Ed., (1993) Vol. 15, pp 31-39, PCR Protocols: Current Methods and Applications. Humania: Totowa, N.J.).

Generally two short segments of the instant sequences may be used in PCR protocols to amplify longer nucleic acid fragments encoding homologous genes from DNA or RNA. PCR may also be performed on a library of cloned nucleic acid fragments wherein the sequence of one primer is derived from the instant nucleic acid fragments, and the sequence of the other primer takes advantage of the presence of the polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3′ end of the mRNA precursor encoding eukaryotic genes.

Alternatively, the second primer sequence may be based upon sequences derived from the cloning vector. For example, the skilled artisan can follow the RACE protocol (Frohman et al., PNAS USA, 85:8998 (1988)) to generate cDNAs by using PCR to amplify copies of the region between a single point in the transcript and the 3′ or 5′ end. Primers oriented in the 3′ and 5′ directions can be designed from the instant sequences. Using commercially available 3′ RACE or 5′ RACE systems (Gibco/BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.), specific 3′ or 5′ cDNA fragments can be isolated (Ohara et al., PNAS USA, 86:5673 (1989); Loh et al., Science, 243:217 (1989)).

Methods for Production of Various Omega-3 and/or Omega-6 Fatty Acids

It is expected that introduction of chimeric genes encoding the delta-8 desaturases described herein, under the control of the appropriate promoters will result in increased production of DGLA and/or ETA in the transformed host organism, respectively. As such, the present invention encompasses a method for the direct production of PUFAs comprising exposing a fatty acid substrate (i.e., EDA or ETrA) to the desaturase enzymes described herein (i.e., those mutants derived from EgD8 or EgD8S, or homologs thereof), such that the substrate is converted to the desired fatty acid product (i.e., DGLA and/or ETA).

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the production of DGLA in a host cell (e.g., oleaginous yeast, soybean), wherein the host cell comprises:

-   -   a.) a recombinant construct encoding a delta-8 desaturase         polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 wherein SEQ ID NO:2 is         not 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:10; and,     -   b.) a source of EDA;         wherein the host cell is grown under conditions such that the         delta-8 desaturase is expressed and the EDA is converted to         DGLA, and wherein the DGLA is optionally recovered.

The person of skill in the art will recognize that the broad substrate range of the delta-8 desaturase may additionally allow for the use of the enzyme for the conversion of ETrA to ETA. Accordingly the invention provides a method for the production of ETA, wherein the host cell comprises:

-   -   a.) a recombinant construct encoding a delta-8 desaturase         polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 wherein SEQ ID NO:2 is         not 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:10; and,     -   b.) a source of ETrA;         wherein the host cell is grown under conditions such that the         delta-8 desaturase is expressed and the ETrA is converted to         ETA, and wherein the ETA is optionally recovered.

Alternatively, each delta-8 desaturase gene and its corresponding enzyme product described herein can be used indirectly for the production of omega-3 fatty acids (see WO 2004/101757). Indirect production of omega-3/omega-6 PUFAs occurs wherein the fatty acid substrate is converted indirectly into the desired fatty acid product, via means of an intermediate step(s) or pathway intermediate(s). Thus, it is contemplated that the delta-8 desaturases described herein (i.e., those mutants derived from EgD8 or EgD8S, or homologs thereof) may be expressed in conjunction with additional genes encoding enzymes of the PUFA biosynthetic pathway (e.g., delta-6 desaturases, C_(18/20) elongases, delta-17 desaturases, delta-15 desaturases, delta-9 desaturases, delta-12 desaturases, C_(14/16) elongases, C_(16/18) elongases, delta-9 elongases, delta-5 desaturases, delta-4 desaturases, C_(20/22) elongases) to result in higher levels of production of longer-chain omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids (e.g., ARA, EPA, DPA and DHA). In preferred embodiments, the delta-8 desaturases of the present invention will minimally be expressed in conjunction with a delta-9 elongase (e.g., a delta-9 elongase as set forth in SEQ ID NO:173 or SEQ ID NO:176). However, the particular genes included within a particular expression cassette will depend on the host cell (and its PUFA profile and/or desaturase/elongase profile), the availability of substrate and the desired end product(s).

Plant Expression Systems, Cassettes & Vectors, and Transformation

In one embodiment, this invention concerns a recombinant construct comprising any one of the delta-8 desaturase polynucleotides of the invention operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence suitable for expression in a plant. A promoter is a DNA sequence that directs the cellular machinery of a plant to produce RNA from the contiguous coding sequence downstream (3′) of the promoter. The promoter region influences the rate, developmental stage, and cell type in which the RNA transcript of the gene is made. The RNA transcript is processed to produce mRNA which serves as a template for translation of the RNA sequence into the amino acid sequence of the encoded polypeptide. The 5′ non-translated leader sequence is a region of the mRNA upstream of the protein coding region that may play a role in initiation and translation of the mRNA. The 3′ transcription termination/polyadenylation signal is a non-translated region downstream of the protein coding region that functions in the plant cell to cause termination of the RNA transcript and the addition of polyadenylate nucleotides to the 3′ end of the RNA.

The origin of the promoter chosen to drive expression of the delta-8 desaturase coding sequence is not important as long as it has sufficient transcriptional activity to accomplish the invention by expressing translatable mRNA for the desired nucleic acid fragments in the desired host tissue at the right time. Either heterologous or non-heterologous (i.e., endogenous) promoters can be used to practice the invention. For example, suitable promoters include, but are not limited to: the α-prime subunit of β-conglycinin promoter, the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor 3 promoter, the annexin promoter, the Gly1 promoter, the β subunit of β-conglycinin promoter, the P34/Gly Bd m 30K promoter, the albumin promoter, the Leg A1 promoter and the Leg A2 promoter.

The annexin, or P34, promoter is described in WO 2004/071178 (published Aug. 26, 2004). The level of activity of the annexin promoter is comparable to that of many known strong promoters, such as: (1) the CaMV 35S promoter (Atanassova et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 37:275-285 (1998); Battraw and Hall, Plant Mol. Biol., 15:527-538 (1990); Holtorf et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 29:637-646 (1995); Jefferson et al., EMBO J., 6:3901-3907 (1987); Wilmink et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 28:949-955 (1995)); (2) the Arabidopsis oleosin promoters (Plant et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 25:193-205 (1994); Li, Texas A&M University Ph.D. dissertation, pp. 107-128 (1997)); (3) the Arabidopsis ubiquitin extension protein promoters (Callis et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265(21):12486-93 (1990)); (4) a tomato ubiquitin gene promoter (Rollfinke et al., Gene, 211(2):267-76 (1998)); (5) a soybean heat shock protein promoter (Schoffl et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 217 (2-3):246-53 (1989)); and, (6) a maize H3 histone gene promoter (Atanassova et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 37(2):275-85 (1989)).

Another useful feature of the annexin promoter is its expression profile in developing seeds. The annexin promoter is most active in developing seeds at early stages (before 10 days after pollination) and is largely quiescent in later stages. The expression profile of the annexin promoter is different from that of many seed-specific promoters, e.g., seed storage protein promoters, which often provide highest activity in later stages of development (Chen et al., Dev. Genet., 10:112-122 (1989); Ellerstrom et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 32:1019-1027 (1996); Keddie et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 24:327-340 (1994); Plant et al., (supra); Li, (supra)). The annexin promoter has a more conventional expression profile but remains distinct from other known seed specific promoters. Thus, the annexin promoter will be a very attractive candidate when overexpression, or suppression, of a gene in embryos is desired at an early developing stage. For example, it may be desirable to overexpress a gene regulating early embryo development or a gene involved in the metabolism prior to seed maturation.

Following identification of an appropriate promoter suitable for expression of a specific delta-8 desaturase coding sequence, the promoter is then operably linked in a sense orientation using conventional means well known to those skilled in the art.

Once the recombinant construct has been made, it may then be introduced into a plant cell of choice by methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art (e.g., transfection, transformation and electroporation). Oilseed plant cells are the preferred plant cells. The transformed plant cell is then cultured and regenerated under suitable conditions permitting expression of the long-chain PUFA which is then optionally recovered and purified.

The recombinant constructs of the invention may be introduced into one plant cell; or, alternatively, each construct may be introduced into separate plant cells.

Expression in a plant cell may be accomplished in a transient or stable fashion as is described above.

The desired long-chain PUFAs can be expressed in seed. Also within the scope of this invention are seeds or plant parts obtained from such transformed plants.

Plant parts include differentiated and undifferentiated tissues including, but not limited to: roots, stems, shoots, leaves, pollen, seeds, tumor tissue and various forms of cells and culture (e.g., single cells, protoplasts, embryos and callus tissue). The plant tissue may be in plant or in a plant organ, tissue or cell culture.

The term “plant organ” refers to plant tissue or a group of tissues that constitute a morphologically and functionally distinct part of a plant. The term “genome” refers to the following: (1) the entire complement of genetic material (genes and non-coding sequences) that is present in each cell of an organism, or virus or organelle; and/or (2) a complete set of chromosomes inherited as a (haploid) unit from one parent.

Thus, this invention also concerns a method for transforming a cell, comprising transforming a cell with a recombinant construct of the invention and selecting those cells transformed with the recombinant construct, wherein said recombinant construct comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant polypeptide having delta-8 desaturase activity, wherein the amino acid sequence of the mutant polypeptide is set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, and wherein SEQ ID NO:2 is not identical to SEQ ID NO:10.

Also of interest is a method for producing a transformed plant comprising transforming a plant cell with the mutant delta-8 desaturase polynucleotides of the instant invention and regenerating a plant from the transformed plant cell.

Methods for transforming dicots (primarily by use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens) and obtaining transgenic plants have been published, among others, for: cotton (U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,863; U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,135); soybean (U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,834; U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,011); Brassica (U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,174); peanut (Cheng et al., Plant Cell Rep., 15:653-657 (1996); McKently et al., Plant Cell Rep., 14:699-703 (1995)); papaya (Ling, K. et al., Bio/technology, 9:752-758 (1991)); and pea (Grant et al., Plant Cell Rep., 15:254-258 (1995)). For a review of other commonly used methods of plant transformation see Newell, C. A. (Mol. Biotechnol., 16:53-65 (2000)). One of these methods of transformation uses Agrobacterium rhizogenes (Tepfler, M. and Casse-Delbart, F., Microbiol. Sci., 4:24-28 (1987)). Transformation of soybeans using direct delivery of DNA has been published using PEG fusion (WO 92/17598), electroporation (Chowrira, G. M. et al., Mol. Biotechnol., 3:17-23 (1995); Christou, P. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. Sci. USA, 84:3962-3966 (1987)), microinjection, or particle bombardment (McCabe, D. E. et al., Bio/Technology, 6:923 (1988); Christou et al., Plant Physiol., 87:671-674 (1988)).

There are a variety of methods for the regeneration of plants from plant tissue. The particular method of regeneration will depend on the starting plant tissue and the particular plant species to be regenerated. The regeneration, development and cultivation of plants from single plant protoplast transformants or from various transformed explants is well known in the art (Weissbach and Weissbach, In: Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, (Eds.), Academic: San Diego, Calif. (1988)). This regeneration and growth process typically includes the steps of selection of transformed cells and culturing those individualized cells through the usual stages of embryonic development through the rooted plantlet stage. Transgenic embryos and seeds are similarly regenerated. The resulting transgenic rooted shoots are thereafter planted in an appropriate plant growth medium such as soil. Preferably, the regenerated plants are self-pollinated to provide homozygous transgenic plants. Otherwise, pollen obtained from the regenerated plants is crossed to seed-grown plants of agronomically important lines. Conversely, pollen from plants of these important lines is used to pollinate regenerated plants. A transgenic plant of the present invention containing a desired polypeptide is cultivated using methods well known to one skilled in the art.

In addition to the above discussed procedures, practitioners are familiar with the standard resource materials which describe specific conditions and procedures for: the construction, manipulation and isolation of macromolecules (e.g., DNA molecules, plasmids, etc.); generation of recombinant DNA fragments and recombinant expression constructs; and, the screening and isolating of clones. See, for example: Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor: NY (1989); Maliga et al., Methods in Plant Molecular Biology, Cold Spring Harbor: NY (1995); Birren et al., Genome Analysis: Detecting Genes, Vol. 1, Cold Spring Harbor: NY (1998); Birren et al., Genome Analysis: Analyzing DNA, Vol. 2, Cold Spring Harbor: NY (1998); Plant Molecular Biology: A Laboratory Manual, eds. Clark, Springer: NY (1997).

Examples of oilseed plants include, but are not limited to: soybean, Brassica species, sunflower, maize, cotton, flax and safflower.

Examples of PUFAs having at least twenty carbon atoms and five or more carbon-carbon double bonds include, but are not limited to, omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA, DPA and DHA. Seeds obtained from such plants are also within the scope of this invention as well as oil obtained from such seeds.

In one embodiment this invention concerns an oilseed plant comprising:

-   -   a) a first recombinant DNA construct comprising an isolated         polynucleotide encoding a mutant polypeptide having delta-8         desaturase activity, operably linked to at least one regulatory         sequence; and,     -   b) at least one additional recombinant DNA construct comprising         an isolated polynucleotide, operably linked to at least one         regulatory sequence, encoding a polypeptide selected from the         group consisting of: a delta-4 desaturase, a delta-5 desaturase,         delta-6 desaturase, a delta-9 desaturase, a delta-12 desaturase,         a delta-15 desaturase, a delta-17 desaturase, a delta-9         elongase, a C_(14/16) elongase, a C_(16/18) elongase, a         C_(18/20) elongase and a C_(20/22) elongase.

Such additional desaturases are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,183, No. 5,968,809, No. 6,136,574, No. 5,972,664, No. 6,051,754, No. 6,410,288 and WO 98/46763, WO 98/46764, WO 00/12720 and WO 00/40705.

The choice of combination of cassettes used depends in part on the PUFA profile and/or desaturase/alongase profile of the oilseed plant cells to be transformed and the long-chain PUFA(s) which is to be expressed.

In another aspect, this invention concerns a method for making long-chain PUFAs in a plant cell comprising:

-   -   (a) transforming a cell with a recombinant construct of the         invention; and,     -   (b) selecting those transformed cells that make long-chain         PUFAs.

In still another aspect, this invention concerns a method for producing at least one PUFA in a soybean cell comprising:

-   -   (a) transforming a soybean cell with a first recombinant DNA         construct comprising:         -   (i) an isolated polynucleotide encoding a mutant polypeptide             having delta-8 desaturase activity, operably linked to at             least one regulatory sequence; and,         -   (ii) at least one additional recombinant DNA construct             comprising an isolated polynucleotide, operably linked to at             least one regulatory sequence, encoding a polypeptide             selected from the group consisting of: a delta-4 desaturase,             a delta-5 desaturase, delta-6 desaturase, a delta-9             desaturase, a delta-12 desaturase, a delta-15 desaturase, a             delta-17 desaturase, a delta-9 elongase, a C_(14/16)             elongase, a C_(16/18) elongase, a C_(18/20) elongase and a             C_(20/22) elongase;     -   (b) regenerating a soybean plant from the transformed cell of         step (a); and,     -   (c) selecting those seeds obtained from the plants of step (b)         having an altered level of PUFAs when compared to the level in         seeds obtained from a nontransformed soybean plant.         In particularly preferred embodiments, the at least one         additional recombinant DNA construct encodes a polypeptide         having delta-9 elongase activity, e.g., the delta-9 elongase         isolated and/or derived from Isochrysis galbana (GenBank         Accession No. AF390174) and set forth in SEQ ID NOs:172-174 or         the delta-9 elongase isolated and/or derived from Euglena         gracilis and set forth in SEQ ID NOs:175-177.         Microbial Expression Systems, Cassettes & Vectors, and         Transformation

The delta-8 desaturase genes and gene products described herein (i.e., those mutants derived from EgD8 or EgD8S, or homologs thereof) may also be produced in heterologous microbial host cells, particularly in the cells of oleaginous yeasts (e.g., Yarrowia lipolytica).

Microbial expression systems and expression vectors containing regulatory sequences that direct high level expression of foreign proteins are well known to those skilled in the art. Any of these could be used to construct chimeric genes for production of any of the gene products of the instant sequences. These chimeric genes could then be introduced into appropriate microorganisms via transformation to provide high-level expression of the encoded enzymes.

Vectors or DNA cassettes useful for the transformation of suitable microbial host cells are well known in the art. The specific choice of sequences present in the construct is dependent upon the desired expression products (supra), the nature of the host cell and the proposed means of separating transformed cells versus non-transformed cells. Typically, however, the vector or cassette contains sequences directing transcription and translation of the relevant gene(s), a selectable marker and sequences allowing autonomous replication or chromosomal integration. Suitable vectors comprise a region 5′ of the gene that controls transcriptional initiation (e.g., a promoter) and a region 3′ of the DNA fragment that controls transcriptional termination (i.e., a terminator). It is most preferred when both control regions are derived from genes from the transformed microbial host cell, although it is to be understood that such control regions need not be derived from the genes native to the specific species chosen as a production host.

Initiation control regions or promoters which are useful to drive expression of the instant delta-8 desaturase ORFs in the desired microbial host cell are numerous and familiar to those skilled in the art. Virtually any promoter capable of directing expression of these genes in the selected host cell is suitable for the present invention. Expression in a microbial host cell can be accomplished in a transient or stable fashion. Transient expression can be accomplished by inducing the activity of a regulatable promoter operably linked to the gene of interest. Stable expression can be achieved by the use of a constitutive promoter operably linked to the gene of interest. As an example, when the host cell is yeast, transcriptional and translational regions functional in yeast cells are provided, particularly from the host species (e.g., see WO 2004/101757 and WO 2006/052870 for preferred transcriptional initiation regulatory regions for use in Yarrowia lipolytica). Any one of a number of regulatory sequences can be used, depending upon whether constitutive or induced transcription is desired, the efficiency of the promoter in expressing the ORF of interest, the ease of construction and the like.

Nucleotide sequences surrounding the translational initiation codon ‘ATG’ have been found to affect expression in yeast cells. If the desired polypeptide is poorly expressed in yeast, the nucleotide sequences of exogenous genes can be modified to include an efficient yeast translation initiation sequence to obtain optimal gene expression. For expression in yeast, this can be done by site-directed mutagenesis of an inefficiently expressed gene by fusing it in-frame to an endogenous yeast gene, preferably a highly expressed gene. Alternatively, one can determine the consensus translation initiation sequence in the host and engineer this sequence into heterologous genes for their optimal expression in the host of interest.

The termination region can be derived from the 3′ region of the gene from which the initiation region was obtained or from a different gene. A large number of termination regions are known and function satisfactorily in a variety of hosts (when utilized both in the same and different genera and species from where they were derived). The termination region usually is selected more as a matter of convenience rather than because of any particular property. Preferably, when the microbial host is a yeast cell, the termination region is derived from a yeast gene (particularly Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Candida, Yarrowia or Kluyveromyces). The 3′-regions of mammalian genes encoding γ-interferon and α-2 interferon are also known to function in yeast. Termination control regions may also be derived from various genes native to the preferred hosts. Optionally, a termination site may be unnecessary; however, it is most preferred if included. Although not intended to be limiting, termination regions useful in the disclosure herein include: ˜100 bp of the 3′ region of the Yarrowia lipolytica extracellular protease (XPR; GenBank Accession No. M17741); the acyl-coA oxidase (Aco3: GenBank Accession No. AJ001301 and No. CAA04661; Pox3: GenBank Accession No. XP_(—)503244) terminators; the Pex20 (GenBank Accession No. AF054613) terminator; the Pex16 (GenBank Accession No. U75433) terminator; the Lip1 (GenBank Accession No. Z50020) terminator; the Lip2 (GenBank Accession No. AJ012632) terminator; and the 3-oxoacyl-coA thiolase (OCT; GenBank Accession No. X69988) terminator.

As one of skill in the art is aware, merely inserting a gene into a cloning vector does not ensure that it will be successfully expressed at the level needed. In response to the need for a high expression rate, many specialized expression vectors have been created by manipulating a number of different genetic elements that control aspects of transcription, translation, protein stability, oxygen limitation and secretion from the microbial host cell. More specifically, some of the molecular features that have been manipulated to control gene expression include: 1.) the nature of the relevant transcriptional promoter and terminator sequences; 2.) the number of copies of the cloned gene and whether the gene is plasmid-borne or integrated into the genome of the host cell; 3.) the final cellular location of the synthesized foreign protein; 4.) the efficiency of translation and correct folding of the protein in the host organism; 5.) the intrinsic stability of the mRNA and protein of the cloned gene within the host cell; and 6.) the codon usage within the cloned gene, such that its frequency approaches the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell. Each of these types of modifications are encompassed in the present invention, as means to further optimize expression of the mutant delta-8 desaturases described herein.

Once the DNA encoding a polypeptide suitable for expression in an appropriate microbial host cell (e.g., oleaginous yeast) has been obtained (e.g., a chimeric gene comprising a promoter, ORF and terminator), it is placed in a plasmid vector capable of autonomous replication in a host cell, or it is directly integrated into the genome of the host cell. Integration of expression cassettes can occur randomly within the host genome or can be targeted through the use of constructs containing regions of homology with the host genome sufficient to target recombination within the host locus. Where constructs are targeted to an endogenous locus, all or some of the transcriptional and translational regulatory regions can be provided by the endogenous locus.

In the present invention, the preferred method of expressing genes in Yarrowia lipolytica is by integration of linear DNA into the genome of the host; and, integration into multiple locations within the genome can be particularly useful when high level expression of genes are desired [e.g., in the Ura3 locus (GenBank Accession No. AJ306421), the Leu2 gene locus (GenBank Accession No. AF260230), the Lys5 gene (GenBank Accession No. M34929), the Aco2 gene locus (GenBank Accession No. AJ001300), the Pox3 gene locus (Pox3: GenBank Accession No. XP_(—)503244; or, Aco3: GenBank Accession No. AJ001301), the delta-12 desaturase gene locus (WO2004/104167), the Lip1 gene locus (GenBank Accession No. Z50020) and/or the Lip2 gene locus (GenBank Accession No. AJ012632)].

Advantageously, the Ura3 gene can be used repeatedly in combination with 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-fluorouracil-6-carboxylic acid monohydrate; “5-FOA”) selection (infra), to readily permit genetic modifications to be integrated into the Yarrowia genome in a facile manner.

Where two or more genes are expressed from separate replicating vectors, it is desirable that each vector has a different means of selection and should lack homology to the other construct(s) to maintain stable expression and prevent reassortment of elements among constructs. Judicious choice of regulatory regions, selection means and method of propagation of the introduced construct(s) can be experimentally determined so that all introduced genes are expressed at the necessary levels to provide for synthesis of the desired products.

Constructs comprising the gene of interest may be introduced into a microbial host cell by any standard technique. These techniques include transformation (e.g., lithium acetate transformation [Methods in Enzymology, 194:186-187 (1991)]), protoplast fusion, bolistic impact, electroporation, microinjection, or any other method that introduces the gene of interest into the host cell. More specific teachings applicable for oleaginous yeasts (i.e., Yarrowia lipolytica) include U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,741 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,764 and Chen, D. C. et al. (Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 48(2):232-235 (1997)).

For convenience, a host cell that has been manipulated by any method to take up a DNA sequence (e.g., an expression cassette) will be referred to as “transformed” or “recombinant” herein. The transformed host will have at least one copy of the expression construct and may have two or more, depending upon whether the gene is integrated into the genome, amplified or is present on an extrachromosomal element having multiple copy numbers.

The transformed host cell can be identified by various selection techniques, as described in WO2004/101757 and WO 2006/052870. Preferred selection methods for use herein are resistance to kanamycin, hygromycin and the amino glycoside G418, as well as ability to grow on media lacking uracil, leucine, lysine, tryptophan or histidine. In alternate embodiments, 5-FOA is used for selection of yeast Ura-mutants. The compound is toxic to yeast cells that possess a functioning URA3 gene encoding orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase (OMP decarboxylase); thus, based on this toxicity, 5-FOA is especially useful for the selection and identification of Ura⁻ mutant yeast strains (Bartel, P. L. and Fields, S., Yeast 2-Hybrid System, Oxford University: New York, v. 7, pp 109-147, 1997). More specifically, one can first knockout the native Ura3 gene to produce a strain having a Ura-phenotype, wherein selection occurs based on 5-FOA resistance. Then, a cluster of multiple chimeric genes and a new Ura3 gene can be integrated into a different locus of the Yarrowia genome to thereby produce a new strain having a Ura+ phenotype. Subsequent integration produces a new Ura3− strain (again identified using 5-FOA selection), when the introduced Ura3 gene is knocked out. Thus, the Ura3 gene (in combination with 5-FOA selection) can be used as a selection marker in multiple rounds of transformation.

Following transformation, substrates suitable for the instant delta-8 desaturases (and, optionally other PUFA enzymes that are co-expressed within the host cell) may be produced by the host either naturally or transgenically, or they may be provided exogenously.

Microbial host cells for expression of the instant genes and nucleic acid fragments may include hosts that grow on a variety of feedstocks, including simple or complex carbohydrates, fatty acids, organic acids, oils and alcohols, and/or hydrocarbons over a wide range of temperature and pH values. The genes of the present invention have been isolated for expression in an oleaginous yeast (and in particular Yarrowia lipolytica). It is contemplated that because transcription, translation and the protein biosynthetic apparatus is highly conserved, any bacteria, yeast, algae, oomycete and/or fungus will be a suitable microbial host for expression of the present nucleic acid fragments.

Preferred microbial hosts are oleaginous yeasts. These organisms are naturally capable of oil synthesis and accumulation, wherein the oil can comprise greater than about 25% of the cellular dry weight, more preferably greater than about 30% of the cellular dry weight, and most preferably greater than about 40% of the cellular dry weight. Genera typically identified as oleaginous yeast include, but are not limited to: Yarrowia, Candida, Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Lipomyces. More specifically, illustrative oil-synthesizing yeasts include: Rhodosporidium toruloides, Lipomyces starkeyii, L. lipoferus, Candida revkaufi, C. pulcherrima, C. tropicalis, C. utilis, Trichosporon pullans, T. cutaneum, Rhodotorula glutinus, R. graminis, and Yarrowia lipolytica (formerly classified as Candida lipolytica).

Most preferred is the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica; and, in a further embodiment, most preferred are the Y. lipolytica strains designated as ATCC #20362, ATCC #8862, ATCC #18944, ATCC #76982 and/or LGAM S(7)1 (Papanikolaou S., and Aggelis G., Bioresour. Technol. 82(1):43-9 (2002)).

Historically, various strains of Y. lipolytica have been used for the manufacture and production of: isocitrate lyase; lipases; polyhydroxyalkanoates; citric acid; erythritol; 2-oxoglutaric acid; γ-decalactone; γ-dodecalatone; and pyruvic acid. Specific teachings applicable for engineering ARA, EPA and DHA production in Y. lipolytica are provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/264,784 (WO 2006/055322), No. 11/265,761 (WO 2006/052870) and No. 11/264,737 (WO 2006/052871), respectively.

Other preferred microbial hosts include oleaginous bacteria, algae, Oomycetes and other fungi; and, within this broad group of microbial hosts, of particular interest are microorganisms that synthesize omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids (or those that can be genetically engineered for this purpose [e.g., other yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae]). Thus, for example, transformation of Mortierella alpina (which is commercially used for production of ARA) with any of the present delta-8 desaturase genes under the control of inducible or regulated promoters could yield a transformant organism capable of synthesizing increased quantities of EDA. The method of transformation of M. alpina is described by Mackenzie et al. (Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 66:4655 (2000)). Similarly, methods for transformation of Thraustochytriales microorganisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,772.

Based on the teachings described above, in one embodiment this invention is drawn to a method of producing either DGLA or ETA, respectively, comprising:

-   -   a) providing an oleaginous yeast comprising:         -   (i) a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant polypeptide             having delta-8 desaturase activity, wherein the mutant             polypeptide has an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ             ID NO:2 and wherein SEQ ID NO:2 is not identical to SEQ ID             NO:10; and,         -   (ii) a source of desaturase substrate consisting of either             EDA or ETrA, respectively; and,     -   b) growing the yeast of step (a) in the presence of a suitable         fermentable carbon source wherein the gene encoding the delta-8         desaturase polypeptide is expressed and EDA is converted to DGLA         or ETrA is converted to ETA, respectively; and,     -   c) optionally recovering the DGLA or ETA, respectively, of step         (b). Substrate feeding may be required.

Of course, since naturally produced PUFAs in oleaginous yeast are limited to 18:2 fatty acids (i.e., LA), and less commonly, 18:3 fatty acids (i.e., ALA), in more preferred embodiments of the present invention the oleaginous yeast will be genetically engineered to express multiple enzymes necessary for long-chain PUFA biosynthesis (thereby enabling production of e.g., ARA, EPA, DPA and DHA), in addition to the delta-8 desaturase described herein.

Specifically, in one embodiment this invention concerns an oleaginous yeast comprising:

-   -   a) a first recombinant DNA construct comprising an isolated         polynucleotide encoding a mutant delta-8 desaturase polypeptide,         operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence; and,     -   b) at least one additional recombinant DNA construct comprising         an isolated polynucleotide, operably linked to at least one         regulatory sequence, encoding a polypeptide selected from the         group consisting of: a delta-4 desaturase, a delta-5 desaturase,         delta-6 desaturase, a delta-9 desaturase, a delta-12 desaturase,         a delta-15 desaturase, a delta-17 desaturase, a delta-9         elongase, a C_(14/16) elongase, a C_(16/18) elongase, a         C_(18/20) elongase and a C_(20/22) elongase.         In particularly preferred embodiments, the at least one         additional recombinant DNA construct encodes a polypeptide         having delta-9 elongase activity, e.g., the delta-9 elongase         isolated and/or derived from Isochrysis galbana (GenBank         Accession No. AF390174) and set forth in SEQ ID NOs:172-174 or         the delta-9 elongase isolated and/or derived from Euglena         gracilis and set forth in SEQ ID NOs:175-177.         Metabolic Engineering of Omega-3 and/or Omega-6 Fatty Acid         Biosynthesis in Microbes

Methods for manipulating biochemical pathways are well known to those skilled in the art; and, it is expected that numerous manipulations will be possible to maximize omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acid biosynthesis in oleaginous yeasts, and particularly, in Yarrowia lipolytica. This may require metabolic engineering directly within the PUFA biosynthetic pathway or additional coordinated manipulation of various other metabolic pathways.

In the case of manipulations within the PUFA biosynthetic pathway, it may be desirable to increase the production of LA to enable increased production of omega-6 and/or omega-3 fatty acids. Introducing and/or amplifying genes encoding delta-9 and/or delta-12 desaturases may accomplish this. To maximize production of omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids, it is well known to one skilled in the art that production is favored in a host microorganism that is substantially free of ALA; thus, preferably, the host is selected or obtained by removing or inhibiting delta-15 or omega-3 type desaturase activity that permits conversion of LA to ALA. Alternatively, it may be desirable to maximize production of omega-3 fatty acids (and minimize synthesis of omega-6 fatty acids). In this example, one could utilize a host microorganism wherein the delta-12 desaturase activity that permits conversion of oleic acid to LA is removed or inhibited; subsequently, appropriate expression cassettes would be introduced into the host, along with appropriate substrates (e.g., ALA) for conversion to omega-3 fatty acid derivatives of ALA (e.g., STA, ETrA, ETA, EPA, DPA, DHA).

In alternate embodiments, biochemical pathways competing with the omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathways for energy or carbon, or native PUFA biosynthetic pathway enzymes that interfere with production of a particular PUFA end-product, may be eliminated by gene disruption or down-regulated by other means (e.g., antisense mRNA).

Detailed discussion of manipulations within the PUFA biosynthetic pathway as a means to increase ARA, EPA or DHA (and associated techniques thereof) are presented in WO 2006/055322, WO 2006/052870 and WO 2006/052871, respectively, as are desirable manipulations in the TAG biosynthetic pathway and the TAG degradation pathway (and associated techniques thereof).

Within the context of the present invention, it may be useful to modulate the expression of the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway by any one of the strategies described above. For example, the present invention provides methods whereby genes encoding key enzymes in the delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase biosynthetic pathway are introduced into oleaginous yeasts for the production of omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acids. It will be particularly useful to express the present the delta-8 desaturase genes in oleaginous yeasts that do not naturally possess omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathways and coordinate the expression of these genes, to maximize production of preferred PUFA products using various means for metabolic engineering of the host organism.

Microbial Fermentation Processes for PUFA Production

The transformed microbial host cell is grown under conditions that optimize expression of chimeric desaturase and elongase genes and produce the greatest and the most economical yield of the preferred PUFAs. In general, media conditions that may be optimized include the type and amount of carbon source, the type and amount of nitrogen source, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, the oxygen level, growth temperature, pH, length of the biomass production phase, length of the oil accumulation phase and the time and method of cell harvest. Microorganisms of interest (i.e., Yarrowia lipolytica) are generally grown in complex media (e.g., yeast extract-peptone-dextrose broth (YPD)) or a defined minimal media that lacks a component necessary for growth and thereby forces selection of the desired expression cassettes (e.g., Yeast Nitrogen Base (DIFCO Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.)).

Fermentation media in the present invention must contain a suitable carbon source. Suitable carbon sources are taught in WO 2004/101757. Although it is contemplated that the source of carbon utilized in the present invention may encompass a wide variety of carbon-containing sources, preferred carbon sources are sugars, glycerol, and/or fatty acids. Most preferred is glucose and/or fatty acids containing between 10-22 carbons.

Nitrogen may be supplied from an inorganic (e.g., (NH₄)₂SO₄) or organic (e.g., urea or glutamate) source. In addition to appropriate carbon and nitrogen sources, the fermentation media must also contain suitable minerals, salts, cofactors, buffers, vitamins and other components known to those skilled in the art suitable for the growth of the microorganism and promotion of the enzymatic pathways necessary for PUFA production. Particular attention is given to several metal ions (e.g., Mn⁺², Co⁺², Zn⁺², Mg⁺²) that promote synthesis of lipids and PUFAs (Nakahara, T. et al., Ind. Appl. Single Cell Oils, D. J. Kyle and R. Colin, eds. pp 61-97 (1992)).

Preferred growth media in the present invention are common commercially prepared media, such as Yeast Nitrogen Base (DIFCO Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.). Other defined or synthetic growth media may also be used and the appropriate medium for growth of the transformant host cells will be known by one skilled in the art of microbiology or fermentation science. A suitable pH range for the fermentation is typically between about pH 4.0 to pH 8.0, wherein pH 5.5 to pH 7.5 is preferred as the range for the initial growth conditions. The fermentation may be conducted under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, wherein microaerobic conditions are preferred.

Typically, accumulation of high levels of PUFAs in oleaginous yeast cells requires a two-stage process, since the metabolic state must be “balanced” between growth and synthesis/storage of fats. Thus, most preferably, a two-stage fermentation process is necessary for the production of PUFAs in Yarrowia lipolytica. This approach is described in WO 2004/101757, as are various suitable fermentation process designs (i.e., batch, fed-batch and continuous) and considerations during growth.

Purification and Processing of PUFA Oils

PUFAs may be found in the host microorganisms and plants as free fatty acids or in esterified forms such as acylglycerols, phospholipids, sulfolipids or glycolipids, and may be extracted from the host cells through a variety of means well-known in the art. One review of extraction techniques, quality analysis and acceptability standards for yeast lipids is that of Z. Jacobs (Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 12 (5/6):463-491 (1992)). A brief review of downstream processing is also available by A. Singh and O. Ward (Adv. Appl. Microbiol., 45:271-312 (1997)).

In general, means for the purification of PUFAs may include extraction with organic solvents, sonication, supercritical fluid extraction (e.g., using carbon dioxide), saponification and physical means such as presses, or combinations thereof. One is referred to the teachings of WO 2004/101757 for additional details.

Methods of isolating seed oils are well known in the art (Young et al., Processing of Fats and Oils, In The Lipid Handbook, Gunstone et al., eds., Chapter 5, pp 253-257; Chapman & Hall: London (1994)). For example, soybean oil is produced using a series of steps involving the extraction and purification of an edible oil product from the oil-bearing seed. Soybean oils and soybean byproducts are produced using the generalized steps shown in the Table below.

TABLE 5 Generalized Steps For Soybean Oil And Byproduct Production Process Impurities Removed and/or Step Process By-Products Obtained # 1 soybean seed # 2 oil extraction meal # 3 degumming lecithin # 4 alkali or physical refining gums, free fatty acids, pigments # 5 water washing soap # 6 bleaching color, soap, metal # 7 (hydrogenation) # 8 (winterization) stearine # 9 deodorization free fatty acids, tocopherols, sterols, volatiles # 10  oil products

More specifically, soybean seeds are cleaned, tempered, dehulled and flaked, thereby increasing the efficiency of oil extraction. Oil extraction is usually accomplished by solvent (e.g., hexane) extraction but can also be achieved by a combination of physical pressure and/or solvent extraction. The resulting oil is called crude oil. The crude oil may be degummed by hydrating phospholipids and other polar and neutral lipid complexes that facilitate their separation from the nonhydrating, triglyceride fraction (soybean oil). The resulting lecithin gums may be further processed to make commercially important lecithin products used in a variety of food and industrial products as emulsification and release (i.e., anti-sticking) agents. Degummed oil may be further refined for the removal of impurities (primarily free fatty acids, pigments and residual gums). Refining is accomplished by the addition of a caustic agent that reacts with free fatty acid to form soap and hydrates phosphatides and proteins in the crude oil. Water is used to wash out traces of soap formed during refining. The soapstock byproduct may be used directly in animal feeds or acidulated to recover the free fatty acids. Color is removed through adsorption with a bleaching earth that removes most of the chlorophyll and carotenoid compounds. The refined oil can be hydrogenated, thereby resulting in fats with various melting properties and textures. Winterization (fractionation) may be used to remove stearine from the hydrogenated oil through crystallization under carefully controlled cooling conditions. Deodorization (principally via steam distillation under vacuum) is the last step and is designed to remove compounds which impart odor or flavor to the oil. Other valuable byproducts such as tocopherols and sterols may be removed during the deodorization process. Deodorized distillate containing these byproducts may be sold for production of natural vitamin E and other high-value pharmaceutical products. Refined, bleached, (hydrogenated, fractionated) and deodorized oils and fats may be packaged and sold directly or further processed into more specialized products. A more detailed reference to soybean seed processing, soybean oil production and byproduct utilization can be found in Erickson, Practical Handbook of Soybean Processing and Utilization, The American Oil Chemists' Society and United Soybean Board (1995). Soybean oil is liquid at room temperature because it is relatively low in saturated fatty acids when compared with oils such as coconut, palm, palm kernel and cocoa butter.

Plant and microbial oils containing PUFAs that have been refined and/or purified can be hydrogenated, to thereby result in fats with various melting properties and textures. Many processed fats (including spreads, confectionery fats, hard butters, margarines, baking shortenings, etc.) require varying degrees of solidity at room temperature and can only be produced through alteration of the source oil's physical properties. This is most commonly achieved through catalytic hydrogenation.

Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction in which hydrogen is added to the unsaturated fatty acid double bonds with the aid of a catalyst such as nickel. For example, high oleic soybean oil contains unsaturated oleic, LA and linolenic fatty acids and each of these can be hydrogenated. Hydrogenation has two primary effects. First, the oxidative stability of the oil is increased as a result of the reduction of the unsaturated fatty acid content. Second, the physical properties of the oil are changed because the fatty acid modifications increase the melting point resulting in a semi-liquid or solid fat at room temperature.

There are many variables which affect the hydrogenation reaction, which, in turn, alter the composition of the final product. Operating conditions including pressure, temperature, catalyst type and concentration, agitation and reactor design are among the more important parameters that can be controlled. Selective hydrogenation conditions can be used to hydrogenate the more unsaturated fatty acids in preference to the less unsaturated ones. Very light or brush hydrogenation is often employed to increase stability of liquid oils. Further hydrogenation converts a liquid oil to a physically solid fat. The degree of hydrogenation depends on the desired performance and melting characteristics designed for the particular end product. Liquid shortenings (used in the manufacture of baking products, solid fats and shortenings used for commercial frying and roasting operations) and base stocks for margarine manufacture are among the myriad of possible oil and fat products achieved through hydrogenation. A more detailed description of hydrogenation and hydrogenated products can be found in Patterson, H. B. W., Hydrogenation of Fats and Oils: Theory and Practice. The American Oil Chemists' Society (1994).

Hydrogenated oils have become somewhat controversial due to the presence of trans-fatty acid isomers that result from the hydrogenation process. Ingestion of large amounts of trans-isomers has been linked with detrimental health effects including increased ratios of low density to high density lipoproteins in the blood plasma and increased risk of coronary heart disease.

PUFA-Containing Oils for Use in Foodstuffs

The market place currently supports a large variety of food and feed products, incorporating omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acids (particularly ARA, EPA and DHA). It is contemplated that the plant/seed oils, altered seeds and microbial oils of the invention comprising PUFAs will function in food and feed products to impart the health benefits of current formulations. Compared to other vegetable oils, the oils of the invention are believed to function similarly to other oils in food applications from a physical standpoint (for example, partially hydrogenated oils such as soybean oil are widely used as ingredients for soft spreads, margarine and shortenings for baking and frying).

Plant/seed oils, altered seeds and microbial oils containing omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acids described herein will be suitable for use in a variety of food and feed products including, but not limited to: food analogs, meat products, cereal products, snack foods, baked foods and dairy products. Additionally, the present plant/seed oils, altered seeds and microbial oils may be used in formulations to impart health benefit in medical foods including medical nutritionals, dietary supplements, infant formula as well as pharmaceutical products. One of skill in the art of food processing and food formulation will understand how the amount and composition of the plant and microbial oil may be added to the food or feed product. Such an amount will be referred to herein as an “effective” amount and will depend on the food or feed product, the diet that the product is intended to supplement or the medical condition that the medical food or medical nutritional is intended to correct or treat.

Food analogs can be made using processes well known to those skilled in the art. There can be mentioned meat analogs, cheese analogs, milk analogs and the like. Meat analogs made from soybeans contain soy protein or tofu and other ingredients mixed together to simulate various kinds of meats. These meat alternatives are sold as frozen, canned or dried foods. Usually, they can be used the same way as the foods they replace. Meat alternatives made from soybeans are excellent sources of protein, iron and B vitamins. Examples of meat analogs include, but are not limited to: ham analogs, sausage analogs, bacon analogs, and the like.

Food analogs can be classified as imitation or substitutes depending on their functional and compositional characteristics. For example, an imitation cheese need only resemble the cheese it is designed to replace. However, a product can generally be called a substitute cheese only if it is nutritionally equivalent to the cheese it is replacing and meets the minimum compositional requirements for that cheese. Thus, substitute cheese will often have higher protein levels than imitation cheeses and be fortified with vitamins and minerals.

Milk analogs or nondairy food products include, but are not limited to: imitation milk and nondairy frozen desserts (e.g., those made from soybeans and/or soy protein products).

Meat products encompass a broad variety of products. In the United States “meat” includes “red meats” produced from cattle, hogs and sheep. In addition to the red meats there are poultry items which include chickens, turkeys, geese, guineas, ducks and the fish and shellfish. There is a wide assortment of seasoned and processes meat products: fresh, cured and fried, and cured and cooked. Sausages and hot dogs are examples of processed meat products. Thus, the term “meat products” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, processed meat products.

A cereal food product is a food product derived from the processing of a cereal grain. A cereal grain includes any plant from the grass family that yields an edible grain (seed). The most popular grains are barley, corn, millet, oats, quinoa, rice, rye, sorghum, triticale, wheat and wild rice. Examples of a cereal food product include, but are not limited to: whole grain, crushed grain, grits, flour, bran, germ, breakfast cereals, extruded foods, pastas, and the like.

A baked goods product comprises any of the cereal food products mentioned above and has been baked or processed in a manner comparable to baking, i.e., to dry or harden by subjecting to heat. Examples of a baked good product include, but are not limited to: bread, cakes, doughnuts, bars, pastas, bread crumbs, baked snacks, mini-biscuits, mini-crackers, mini-cookies and mini-pretzels. As was mentioned above, oils of the invention can be used as an ingredient.

A snack food product comprises any of the above or below described food products.

A fried food product comprises any of the above or below described food products that has been fried.

A health food product is any food product that imparts a health benefit. Many oilseed-derived food products may be considered as health foods.

A beverage can be in a liquid or in a dry powdered form.

For example, there can be mentioned non-carbonated drinks; fruit juices, fresh, frozen, canned or concentrate; flavored or plain milk drinks, etc. Adult and infant nutritional formulas are well known in the art and commercially available (e.g., Similac®, Ensure®, Jevity®, and Alimentum® from Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories).

Infant formulas are liquids or reconstituted powders fed to infants and young children. “Infant formula” is defined herein as an enternal nutritional product which can be substituted for human breast milk in feeding infants and typically is composed of a desired percentage of fat mixed with desired percentages of carbohydrates and proteins in an aqueous solution (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,285). Based on the worldwide composition studies, as well as levels specified by expert groups, average human breast milk typically contains about 0.20% to 0.40% of total fatty acids (assuming about 50% of calories from fat); and, generally the ratio of DHA to ARA would range from about 1:1 to 1:2 (see, e.g., formulations of Enfamil LIPIL™ [Mead Johnson & Company] and Similac Advance™ [Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories]) Infant formulas have a special role to play in the diets of infants because they are often the only source of nutrients for infants; and, although breast-feeding is still the best nourishment for infants, infant formula is a close enough second that babies not only survive but thrive.

A dairy product is a product derived from milk. A milk analog or nondairy product is derived from a source other than milk, for example, soymilk as was discussed above. These products include, but are not limited to: whole milk, skim milk, fermented milk products such as yogurt or sour milk, cream, butter, condensed milk, dehydrated milk, coffee whitener, coffee creamer, ice cream, cheese, etc.

Additional food products into which the PUFA-containing oils of the invention could be included are, for example: chewing gums, confections and frostings, gelatins and puddings, hard and soft candies, jams and jellies, white granulated sugar, sugar substitutes, sweet sauces, toppings and syrups, and dry-blended powder mixes.

Health Food Products and Pharmaceuticals

A health food product is any food product that imparts a health benefit and includes functional foods, medical foods, medical nutritionals and dietary supplements. Additionally, plant/seed oils, altered seeds and microbial oils of the invention may be used in standard pharmaceutical compositions. For example, the oils of the invention could readily be incorporated into the any of the above mentioned food products, to thereby produce, e.g., a functional or medical food. More concentrated formulations comprising PUFAs include capsules, powders tablets, softgels, gelcaps, liquid concentrates and emulsions which can be used as a dietary supplement in humans or animals other than humans.

Use in Animal Feeds

Animal feeds are generically defined herein as products intended for use as feed or for mixing in feed for animals other than humans. The plant/seed oils, altered seeds and microbial oils of the invention can be used as an ingredient in various animal feeds.

More specifically, although not limited herein, it is expected that the oils of the invention can be used within pet food products, ruminant and poultry food products and aquacultural food products. Pet food products are those products intended to be fed to a pet [e.g., a dog, cat, bird, reptile, rodent]; these products can include the cereal and health food products above, as well as meat and meat byproducts, soy protein products and grass and hay products (e.g., alfalfa, timothy, oat or brome grass, vegetables). Ruminant and poultry food products are those wherein the product is intended to be fed to e.g., turkeys, chickens, cattle and swine. As with the pet foods above, these products can include cereal and health food products, soy protein products, meat and meat byproducts, and grass and hay products as listed above. Aquacultural food products (or “aquafeeds”) are those products intended to be used in aquafarming, i.e., which concerns the propagation, cultivation or farming of aquatic organisms, animals and/or plants in fresh or marine waters.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One object of the present invention is the synthesis of suitable delta-8 desaturases that will enable expression of the delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway in plants and oleaginous yeast.

In commonly owned WO 2006/012325 and WO 2006/012326 (US2005-0287652) applicants describe the isolation of a delta-8 desaturase from Euglena gracilis (“Eg5”), and the enzyme's functional characterization upon expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The wildtype Eg5 sequence was additionally codon-optimized for expression in Yarrowia lipolytica, resulting in the synthesis of a synthetic, functional codon-optimized delta-8 desaturase designated as “D8SF”. Upon co-expression of D8SF with a codon-optimized delta-9 elongase (derived from Isochrysis galbana (GenBank Accession No. 390174) in Yarrowia lipolytica, 6.4% DGLA (with no co-synthesis of GLA) was demonstrated (Example 16 in WO 2006/012325 and WO 2006/012326 (US2005-0287652-A1)).

In the present Application, the synthetic codon-optimized delta-8 desaturase designated as “D8SF” (and designated herein as EgD8S”) was subjected to targeted mutations. Ultimately, a mutant EgD8S enzyme (SEQ ID NO:2) was created comprising at least one amino acid mutation (and up to about 33 amino acid mutations) with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S, wherein: (i) the at least one mutation is selected from the group consisting of: 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 132V to L, 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 279T to L, 280L to T, 293L to M, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A and 422L to Q, wherein the mutations are defined with respect to the synthetic codon-optimized sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:10; (ii) SEQ ID NO:2 is not identical to SEQ ID NO:10; and, (iii) SEQ ID NO:2 is at least about functionally equivalent to SEQ ID NO:10.

Given the teaching of the present application the skilled person will recognize the commercial utility of the recombinant genes of the present invention encoding delta-8 desaturases, to enable production of a variety of omega-3 and/or omega-6 PUFAs via expression of a heterologous delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is further defined in the following Examples. It should be understood that these Examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. From the above discussion and these Examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. Thus, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

General Methods

Standard recombinant DNA and molecular cloning techniques used in the Examples are well known in the art and are described by: 1.) Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989) (Maniatis); 2.) T. J. Silhavy, M. L. Bennan, and L. W. Enquist, Experiments with Gene Fusions; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1984); and 3.) Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, published by Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley-Interscience (1987).

Materials and methods suitable for the maintenance and growth of microbial cultures are well known in the art. Techniques suitable for use in the following examples may be found as set out in Manual of Methods for General Bacteriology (Phillipp Gerhardt, R. G. E. Murray, Ralph N. Costilow, Eugene W. Nester, Willis A. Wood, Noel R. Krieg and G. Briggs Phillips, Eds), American Society for Microbiology: Washington, D.C. (1994)); or by Thomas D. Brock in Biotechnology: A Textbook of Industrial Microbiology, 2^(nd) ed., Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, Mass. (1989). All reagents, restriction enzymes and materials used for the growth and maintenance of microbial cells were obtained from Aldrich Chemicals (Milwaukee, Wis.), DIFCO Laboratories (Detroit, Mich.), GIBCO/BRL (Gaithersburg, Md.), or Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Mo.), unless otherwise specified.

General molecular cloning was performed according to standard methods (Sambrook et al., supra). Oligonucleotides were synthesized by Sigma-Genosys (Spring, Tex.). DNA sequence was generated on an ABI Automatic sequencer using dye terminator technology (U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,860; EP 272,007) using a combination of vector and insert-specific primers. Sequence editing was performed in Sequencher (Gene Codes Corporation, Ann Arbor, Mich.). All sequences represent coverage at least two times in both directions. Comparisons of genetic sequences were accomplished using DNASTAR software (DNAStar Inc., Madison, Wis.). Alternatively, manipulations of genetic sequences were accomplished using the suite of programs available from the Genetics Computer Group Inc. (Wisconsin Package Version 9.0, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), Madison, Wis.). The GCG program “Pileup” was used with the gap creation default value of 12, and the gap extension default value of 4. The GCG “Gap” or “Bestfit” programs were used with the default gap creation penalty of 50 and the default gap extension penalty of 3. Unless otherwise stated, in all other cases GCG program default parameters were used.

The meaning of abbreviations is as follows: “sec” means second(s), “min” means minute(s), “hr” means hour(s), “d” means day(s), “μl” means microliter(s), “mL” means milliliter(s), “L” means liter(s), “μM” means micromolar, “mM” means millimolar, “M” means molar, “mmol” means millimole(s), “μmole” mean micromole(s), “g” means gram(s), “μg” means microgram(s), “ng” means nanogram(s), “U” means unit(s), “bp” means base pair(s) and “kB” means kilobase(s). Parts and percentages are by weight and degrees are Celsius.

Transformation and Cultivation of Yarrowia lipolytica

Yarrowia lipolytica strains ATCC #20362, #76982 and #90812 were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, Md.). Y. lipolytica strains were usually grown at 28° C. on YPD agar (1% yeast extract, 2% bactopeptone, 2% glucose, 2% agar).

Transformation of Yarrowia lipolytica was performed according to the method of Chen, D. C. et al. (Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 48(2):232-235 (1997)), unless otherwise noted. Briefly, Yarrowia was streaked onto a YPD plate and grown at 30° C. for approximately 18 hr. Several large loopfuls of cells were scraped from the plate and resuspended in 1 mL of transformation buffer containing: 2.25 mL of 50% PEG, average MW 3350; 0.125 mL of 2 M Li acetate, pH 6.0; 0.125 mL of 2 M DTT; and 50 μg sheared salmon sperm DNA. Then, approximately 500 ng of linearized plasmid DNA was incubated in 100 μl of resuspended cells, and maintained at 39° C. for 1 hr with vortex mixing at 15 min intervals. The cells were plated onto selection media plates and maintained at 30° C. for 2 to 3 days.

For selection of transformants, minimal medium (“MM”) was generally used; the composition of MM is as follows: 0.17% yeast nitrogen base (DIFCO Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) without ammonium sulfate or amino acids, 2% glucose, 0.1% proline, pH 6.1). Supplements of uracil or leucine were added as appropriate to a final concentration of 0.01% (thereby producing “MMU” or “MMLeu” selection media, respectively, each prepared with 20 g/L agar).

Alternatively, transformants were selected on 5-fluoroorotic acid (“FOA”; also 5-fluorouracil-6-carboxylic acid monohydrate) selection media, comprising: 0.17% yeast nitrogen base (DIFCO Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) without ammonium sulfate or amino acids, 2% glucose, 0.1% proline, 75 mg/L uracil, 75 mg/L uridine, 900 mg/L FOA (Zymo Research Corp., Orange, Calif.) and 20 g/L agar.

Fatty Acid Analysis of Yarrowia lipolytica

For fatty acid analysis, cells were collected by centrifugation and lipids were extracted as described in Bligh, E. G. & Dyer, W. J. (Can. J. Biochem. Physiol., 37:911-917 (1959)). Fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by transesterification of the lipid extract with sodium methoxide (Roughan, G., and Nishida I., Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 276(1):38-46 (1990)) and subsequently analyzed with a Hewlett-Packard 6890 GC fitted with a 30-m×0.25 mm (i.d.) HP-INNOWAX (Hewlett-Packard) column. The oven temperature was from 170° C. (25 min hold) to 185° C. at 3.5° C./min.

For direct base transesterification, Yarrowia culture (3 mL) was harvested, washed once in distilled water, and dried under vacuum in a Speed-Vac for 5-10 min. Sodium methoxide (100 μl of 1%) was added to the sample, and then the sample was vortexed and rocked for 20 min. After adding 3 drops of 1 M NaCl and 400 μl hexane, the sample was vortexed and spun. The upper layer was removed and analyzed by GC as described above.

Example 1 Development of a Topological Model for EgD8S

BLASTP analysis showed that EgD8S contained two domains: an N-terminal cytochrome b₅ domain (located between amino acid residues 5 to 71 of SEQ ID NO:10) and a C-terminal desaturase domain (located between amino acid residues 79 to 406 of SEQ ID NO:10). In order to mutate the amino acid sequence of EgD8S without negatively affecting the delta-8 desaturase activity, a topological model (FIG. 2) was developed based on the logic and analyses below.

First, the TMHMM program (“Prediction of transmembrane helices in proteins”; TMHMM Server v. 2.0, Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, BioCentrum-DTU, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark) predicted that EgD8S had four membrane-spanning helices (amino acid residues 113-132, 223-245, 266-283 and 287-309), with both the N- and C-termini located on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.

The membrane-bound fatty acid desaturases belong to a super-family of membrane di-iron proteins that feature three His-rich motifs: HX₍₃₋₄₎H (SEQ ID NOs:166 and 167), HX₍₂₋₃₎HH (SEQ ID NOs:168 and 169) and (H/Q)X₍₂₋₃₎HH (SEQ ID NOs:170 and 171). These His-rich residues have been predicted to be located in the cytoplasmic face of the membrane and have been shown to be important for enzyme activity (Shanklin, J. et al., Biochemistry, 33:12787-12794 (1994); Shanklin, J., and Cahoon, E. B., Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol., 49:611-641 (1998)). Within SEQ ID NO:10, these three histidine boxes were located between amino acid residues 146-150, 183-187 and 358-362; two additional His residues are located at amino acid residues 27 and 50. Each of these His residues are depicted on FIG. 2 with a small round circle.

If the model predicted by TMHMM (supra) were accepted without alteration, the first two His-rich regions (i.e., the regions spanning between amino acid residues 146-150 and 183-187) would be located in the periplasmic space, thus preventing their participation in the iron-active site.

The conflict noted above was resolved when hydropathy plot analysis (Kyte, J., and Doolittle, R., J. Mol. Biol., 157:105-132 (1982)) predicted one more hydrophobic region located between amino acid residues 88-109 that immediately preceded the first predicted transmembrane segment (i.e., residues 113-132). Since the N-terminal cytochrome-b₅ domain is located in the cytoplasmic space, it was predicted that the hydrophobic region (i.e., residues 88-109) should be the first membrane-spanning segment (i.e., region I, as shown in FIG. 2), while the predicted transmembrane segment corresponding to residues 113-132 was designated as the second membrane-spanning segment (i.e., region II, as shown in FIG. 2). As a result, the transmembrane segment found between residues 223-245 that was originally predicted by TMHMM to span through the membrane was instead predicted to lie in the cytoplasmic face, such that the first two His-rich motifs (i.e., the regions spanning between amino acid residues 146-150 and 183-187) could be adjusted to be within the cytoplasmic side.

Finally, the hydropathy plot analysis also predicted another hydrophobic region (i.e., residues 157-172) between the first two His-rich motifs. Because the substrate for the desaturase is highly hydrophobic, it was expected to most likely partition into the lipid bilayer of the cytoplasmic membrane. This suggested that the desaturase active site assembled from the His-rich motifs might be at (or very near) the membrane surface. Thus, it was hypothesized that both hydrophobic regions (i.e., residues 157-172 and residues 223-245) lie near the membrane surface to ensure that the active site sits close the membrane.

The last two membrane-spanning helices predicted by TMHMM (i.e., residues 266-283 and 287-309) are included within the final topological model shown in FIG. 2 as region III and region IV.

Thus, the topological model depicted in FIG. 2 includes four transmembrane regions labeled as regions I, II, III and IV, which correspond to amino acid residues 88-109, 113-132, 266-283 and 287-309, respectively. Two additional hydrophobic regions are located at amino acid residues 157-172 and 223-245. Finally, “IN” corresponds with the cytoplasmic space, while “OUT” corresponds with the periplasmic space.

Example 2 Strategies to Select Amino Acid Residues for Mutation

Close homologs to the EgD8S sequence were determined by conducting BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul, S. F., et al., J. Mol. Biol., 215:403-410 (1993)) searches for similarity to sequences contained in the BLAST “nr” database (comprising all non-redundant GenBank CDS translations, sequences derived from the 3-dimensional structure Brookhaven Protein Data Bank, the SWISS-PROT protein sequence database, EMBL and DDBJ databases). Specifically, EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10) was compared for similarity to all publicly available protein sequences contained in the “nr” database, using the BLASTP algorithm (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990)) provided by the NCBI.

Ignoring all hits to any delta-8 desaturase isolated from Euglena gracilis, the BLASTP searches showed that EgD8S was most homologous to the following proteins:

TABLE 6 Homologous Proteins To EgD8S, Based On BLASTP Analysis GenBank % Accession % Sim- No. Protein Organism Identity ilarity E-Value CAE65324 hypothetical Caenorhabditis 38 56 1E−65 protein briggsae CBG10258 AAR27297 delta-6 Amylomyces 35 52 3E−65 desaturase rouxii AAS93682 delta-6 Rhizopus 32 53 4E−64 desaturase orizae * “% Identity” is defined as the percentage of amino acids that are identical between the two proteins. ** “% Similarity” is defined as the percentage of amino acids that are identical or conserved between the two proteins. ***“E-Value” (Expectation Value) estimates the statistical significance of the match, specifying the number of matches, with a given score, that are expected in a search of a database of this size absolutely by chance.

In order to select the amino acid residues that could be mutated within EgD8S without affecting the delta-8 desaturase activity, a set of criteria were developed to identify preferred targets for mutation, as outlined below.

1. Preferred amino acid residue targets of the EgD8S desaturase domain (located between amino acid residues 79 to 406 of SEQ ID NO:10) are not conserved, when compared to the delta-6 desaturase of A. rouxii (supra; “ArD6”; SEQ ID NO:13), the delta-6 desaturase of R. orizae (supra; “RoD6”; SEQ ID NO:14) and representatives of other desaturases such as the delta-8 fatty acid desaturase-like protein of Leishmania major (GenBank Accession No. CAJ09677; “LmD8L”; SEQ ID NO:15), and the delta-6 desaturase of Mortierella isabellina (GenBank Accession No. AAG38104; “MiD6”; SEQ ID NO:16). An alignment of these proteins is shown in FIG. 3, using the method of Clustal W (slow, accurate, Gonnet option; Thompson et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 22:4673-4680 (1994)) of the MegAlign™ program of DNASTAR software. It was hypothesized that changes in the non-conserved regions among these 5 different desaturases should not affect the delta-8 desaturase activity of EgD8S.

2. Preferred amino acid residue targets of the cytochrome b₅ domain of EgD8S (located between amino acids 5 to 71 of SEQ ID NO:10) are not conserved, when compared to the cytochrome b₅ genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (GenBank Accession No. P40312; “SCb5”; SEQ ID NO:178) and Schizosaccharomyces pombe (GenBank Accession No. O94391; SPb5; SEQ ID NO:179). An alignment of the N-terminal portion of EgD8S (i.e., amino acid residues 1-136 of SEQ ID NO:10) with SCb5 and SPb5 is shown in FIG. 4, using the method of Clustal W (supra) of the MegAlign™ program of DNASTAR software. It was hypothesized that changes in the non-conserved region among these 3 different proteins should not affect the electron transport function of the cytochrome b₅ domain of EgD8S and thus not affect the delta-8 desaturase activity.

3. Preferred amino acid residue targets are on the transmembrane helices close to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) side of the membrane or exposed to the ER lumen.

4. Preferred amino acid residue targets are close to the N-terminal or C-terminal ends of the EgD8S enzyme, since non-conserved residues in these regions may tolerate more mutations.

Based on the above criteria, a set of 70 target mutation sites (comprising one, two or three amino acid residues) within EgD8S (i.e., SEQ ID NO:10) were selected for mutation as described below in Table 7. Of the individual 126 amino acid residue mutations, 53 (i.e., 42.1%) were identified as “non-conservative amino acid substitutions” while 73 (i.e., 57.9%) were identified as “conservative amino acid substitutions”.

TABLE 7 Selected Amino Acid Residues Suitable For Targeted Mutation Mutation Sequence Mutations Site Within SEQ ID NO: 10 M1 4S to A, 5K to S M2 12T to V M3 16T to K, 17T to V M4 25N to D, 26F to E M5 31A to D, 32E to S M6 59K to L M7 61M to A, 62P to V M8 66P to Q, 67S to A M9 72P to Q, 73Q to P M10 79A to Q, 80Q to A M11 87R to A, 88E to I M12 407A to S, 408V to Q M13 412M to S, 413A to Q M14 416Q to V, 417P to Y M15 422L to Q M16 108S to L M17 110T to A M18 120L to M, 121M to L M19 122V to S M20 123Q to Y, 124Y to Q M21 125Q to H, 126M to L M22 127Y to Q M23 288S to N M24 289I to P, 290L to M M25 291T to V, 292S to V M26 293L to M M27 296F to T M28 298V to S M29 392N to T, 393P to T M30 394L to G, 395P to M M31 7Q to L, 8A to S M32 10P to W, 11L to Q M33 21S to F, 22A to S M34 46F to S, 47M to L M35 48V to F, 49M to L M36 37Y to F, 38Q to N M37 51S to T, 52Q to N M38 54A to G, 55F to Y M39 64I to L, 65N to D M40 69E to D, 70L to V M41 75A to G, 76V to L M42 89E to D, 90L to I M43 97D to E, 98A to V M44 110T to S, 111L to V M45 117G to A, 118Y to F M46 132V to L, 133L to V M47 198D to E, 199I to L M48 231L to V, 232V to L M49 297F to V, 298V to L M50 309I to V, 310V to I M51A 347I to L, 348T to S M51B 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S M52 400V to I, 401I to V M53 9L to V M54 19D to E, 20V to I M55 33I to L M56 45A to G, 46F to Y M57 57K to R, 58L to I M58 65N to Q M59 73Q to N, 74A to G M60 96F to Y M61 239F to I, 240I to F M62 271L to M, 272A to S M63 279T to L, 280L to T M64 130G to A, 131A to G M65 304G to F, 305F to G M66 229F to Y, 230Y to F M67 291T to S, 292S to L M68 162L to V, 163V to L M69 170G to A, 171L to V M70 418A to G, 419G to A

Example 3 Generation of Yarrowia lipolytica Strains Y4001 and Y4001U to Produce about 17% EDA of Total Lipids

The present Example describes the construction of strains Y4001 and Y4001U, derived from Yarrowia lipolytica ATCC #20362, and each capable of producing 17% EDA (C20:2) relative to the total lipids. Both strains were engineered to test functional expression of EgD8S and mutations thereof. Thus, it was necessary to construct host strains capable of producing the delta-8 desaturase substrate, EDA.

The development of strain Y4001l U, having a Leu- and Ura-phenotype, required the construction of strain Y2224 (a FOA resistant mutant from an autonomous mutation of the Ura3 gene of wildtype Yarrowia strain ATCC #20362) and strain Y4001.

Generation of Strain Y2224

Strain Y2224 was isolated in the following manner: Yarrowia lipolytica ATCC #20362 cells from a YPD agar plate (1% yeast extract, 2% bactopeptone, 2% glucose, 2% agar) were streaked onto a MM plate (75 mg/L each of uracil and uridine, 6.7 g/L YNB with ammonia sulfate, without amino acid, and 20 g/L glucose) containing 250 mg/L 5-FOA (Zymo Research). Plates were incubated at 28° C. and four of the resulting colonies were patched separately onto MM plates containing 200 mg/mL 5-FOA and MM plates lacking uracil and uridine to confirm uracil Ura3 auxotrophy.

Generation of Strain Y4001 to Produce 17% EDA of Total Lipids

Strain Y4001 was created via integration of construct pZKLeuN-29E3 (FIG. 5A; comprising four chimeric genes [a delta-12 desaturase, a C_(16/18) elongase and two delta-9 elongases]) into the Leu2 loci of Y2224 strain to thereby enable production of EDA.

Construct pZKLeuN-29E3 contained the following components:

TABLE 8 Description of Plasmid pZKLeuN-29E3 (SEQ ID NO: 17) RE Sites And Nucleotides Within SEQ ID Description Of Fragment And Chimeric NO: 17 Gene Components BsiW I/Asc I 795 bp 3′ part of Yarrowia Leu2 gene (GenBank 7797-7002 Accession No. AF260230) Sph I/Pac I 703 bp 5′ part of Yarrowia Leu2 gene (GenBank (4302-3591) Accession No. AF260230) Swa I/BsiW I GPD::F.D12::Pex20, comprising: (10500-7797) GPD: Yarrowia lipolytica GPD promoter (WO 2005/003310) F.D12: Fusarium moniliforme delta-12 desaturase gene (WO 2005/047485) Pex20: Pex20 terminator sequence from Yarrowia Pex20 gene (GenBank Accession No. AF054613) Bgl II/Swa I Exp pro::EgD9E::Lip1, comprising: (12526-10500) Exp pro: Yarrowia lipolytica export protein (EXP1) promoter (WO 2006/052870 and U.S. Patent Application No. 11/265761) EgD9E: codon-optimized delta-9 elongase gene (SEQ ID NO: 177), derived from Euglena gracilis (SEQ ID NOs: 175 and 176; U.S. Patent Application No. 60/739989; see also Example 16 herein) Lip1: Lip1 terminator sequence from Yarrowia Lip1 gene (GenBank Accession No. Z50020) Pme I/Cla I FBAINm::EgD9S::Lip2, comprising: (12544-1) FBAINm: Yarrowia lipolytica FBAINm promoter (WO 2005/049805) EgD9S: codon-optimized delta-9 elongase gene (SEQ ID NO: 177; supra) Lip2: Lip2 terminator sequence from Yarrowia Lip2 gene (GenBank Accession No. AJ012632) Cla I/EcoR I LoxP::Ura3::LoxP, comprising: (1-1736) LoxP sequence (SEQ ID NO: 18) Yarrowia Ura3 gene (GenBank Accession No. AJ306421) LoxP sequence (SEQ ID NO: 18) EcoR I/Pac I NT::ME3S::Pex16, comprising: (1736-3591) NT: Yarrowia lipolytica YAT1 promoter (Patent Publication US 2006/0094102-A1) ME3S: codon-optimized C_(16/18) elongase gene (SEQ ID NO: 19), derived from M. alpina (see U.S. Patent Application No. 11/253882 and also WO 2006/052870) Pex16: Pex16 terminator sequence of Yarrowia Pex 16 gene (GenBank Accession No. U75433)

Plasmid pZKLeuN-29E3 was digested with Asc I/Sph I, and then used for transformation of Y. lipolytica strain Y2224 (i.e., ATCC #20362 Ura3−) according to the General Methods. The transformant cells were plated onto MMLeu media plates and maintained at 30° C. for 2 to 3 days. The colonies were picked and streaked onto MM and MMLeu selection plates. The colonies that could grow on MMLeu plates but not on MM plates were selected as Leu-strains. Single colonies of Leu-strains were then inoculated into liquid MMLeu at 30° C. and shaken at 250 rpm/min for 2 days. The cells were collected by centrifugation, lipids were extracted, and fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by trans-esterification, and subsequently analyzed with a Hewlett-Packard 6890 GC.

GC analyses showed the presence of EDA in the transformants containing the 4 chimeric genes of pZKLeuN-29E3, but not in the Yarrowia Y2224 control strain. Most of the selected 36 Leu-strains produced about 12 to 16.9% EDA of total lipids. There were 3 strains (i.e., strains #11, #30 and #34) that produced about 17.4%, 17% and 17.5% EDA of total lipids; they were designated as strains Y4001, Y4002 and Y4003, respectively.

Generation of Strain Y4001U (Leu-, Ura-) to Produce 17% EDA of Total Lipids

Strain Y4001U was created via temporary expression of the Cre recombinase enzyme in plasmid pY116 (FIG. 5B) within strain Y4001 to produce a Leu- and Ura-phenotype. Construct pY116 contained the following components:

TABLE 9 Description of Plasmid pY116 (SEQ ID NO: 180) RE Sites And Nucleotides Within SEQ ID Description Of Fragment And Chimeric NO: 180 Gene Components 1328-448 ColE1 plasmid origin of replication 2258-1398 Ampicillin-resistance gene (Amp^(R)) 3157-4461 Yarrowia autonomous replication sequence (ARS18; GenBank Accession No. A17608) PacI/SawI Yarrowia Leu2 gene (GenBank Accession No. 6667-4504 AF260230) 6667-180 GPAT::Cre::XPR2, comprising: GPAT: Yarrowia lipolytica GPAT promoter (WO 2006/031937) Cre: Enterobacteria phage P1 Cre gene for recombinase protein (GenBank Accession No. X03453) XPR2: ~100 bp of the 3′ region of the Yarrowia Xpr gene (GenBank Accession No. M17741)

Plasmid pY116 was used for transformation of freshly grown Y4001 cells according to the General Methods. The transformant cells were plated onto MMU plates containing 280 μg/mL sulfonylurea and maintained at 30° C. for 3 to 4 days. Four colonies were picked, inoculated into 3 mL liquid YPD media at 30° C. and shaken at 250 rpm/min for 1 day. The cultures were diluted to 1:50,000 with liquid MMU media, and 100 μL was plated onto new YPD plates and maintained at 30° C. for 2 days. Colonies were picked and streaked onto MMLeu and MMLeu+Ura selection plates. The colonies that could grow on MMLeu+Ura plates but not on MMLeu plates were selected and analyzed by GC to confirm the presence of C20:2 (EDA). One strain, having a Leu- and Ura-phenotype, produced about 17% EDA of total lipids and was designated as Y4001U.

Example 4 Generation of Auto-Replicating Plasmid pFmD8S

The present Example describes the construction of plasmid pFmD8S comprising a chimeric FBAINm::EgD8S::XPR gene. Plasmid pFmD8S (SEQ ID NO:20; FIG. 6D) was constructed by three-way ligation using fragments from plasmids pKUNFmkF2, pDMW287F and pDMW214. Plasmid pFmD8S, an auto-replicating plasmid that will reside in Yarrowia in 1-3 copies, was utilized to test functional expression of EgD8S (and mutations thereof), as described in Examples 5-10, infra.

Plasmid pKUNFmkF2

pKUNFmkF2 (SEQ ID NO:21; FIG. 6A; WO 2006/012326) is a construct comprising a chimeric FBAINm::F.D12::Lip2 gene (wherein “FBAINmK” is the Yarrowia lipolytica FBAINm promoter [WO 2005/049805], “F.D12” is the Fusarium moniliforme delta-12 desaturase [WO 2005/047485], and “Lip2” is the Yarrowia lipolytica Lip2 terminator sequence (GenBank Accession No. AJ012632)).

Plasmid pDMW287F

pDMW287F (SEQ ID NO:22; FIG. 6B; WO 2006/012326) is a construct comprising the synthetic delta-8 desaturase, derived from wildtype Euglena gracilis, and codon-optimized for expression in Yarrowia lipolytica (wherein EgD8S is identified as “D8SF” in the figure). The desaturase gene is flanked by a Yarrowia lipolytica FBAIN promoter (WO 2005/049805; identified as “FBA1+intron” in the figure) and a Pex16 terminator sequence of the Yarrowia Pex16 gene (GenBank Accession No. U75433).

Plasmid pDMW214

pDMW214 (SEQ ID NO:23; FIG. 6C; WO 2005/049805) is a shuttle plasmid that could replicate both in E. coli and Yarrowia lipolytica. It contained the following components:

TABLE 10 Description Of Plasmid pDMW214 (SEQ ID NO: 23) RE Sites And Nucleotides Within SEQ ID Description Of Fragment And Chimeric NO: 23 Gene Components 1150-270 ColE1 plasmid origin of replication 2080-1220 Ampicillin-resistance gene (Amp^(R)) 2979-4256 Yarrowia autonomous replication sequence (ARS18; GenBank Accession No. A17608) PmeI/SphI Yarrowia Leu2 gene (GenBank Accession No. 6501-4256 AF260230) 6501-1 FBA1 + intron::GUS::XPR2, comprising: FBA1 + intron: Yarrowia lipolytica FBAIN promoter (WO 2005/049805) GUS: E. coli gene encoding β-glucuronidase (Jefferson, R. A. Nature. 342: 837-838 (1989) XPR2: ~100 bp of the 3′ region of the Yarrowia Xpr gene (GenBank Accession No. M17741)

Final Construction of Plasmid pFmD8S

The PmeI/NcoI fragment of plasmid pKUNFmkF2 (FIG. 6A; comprising the FBAINm promoter) and the NcoI/NotI fragment of plasmid pDMW287F (FIG. 6B; comprising the synthetic delta-8 desaturase gene EgD8S) were used directionally to replace the PmeI/Not I fragment of pDMW214 (FIG. 6C). This resulted in generation of pFmD8S (SEQ ID NO:20; FIG. 6D), comprising a chimeric FBAINm::EgD8S::XPR2 gene. Thus, the components of pFmD8S are as described in Table 11 below.

TABLE 11 Components Of Plasmid pFmD8S (SEQ ID NO: 20) RE Sites And Nucleotides Within SEQ ID Description Of Fragment And Chimeric NO: 20 Gene Components Swa I/Sac II FBAINm::EgD8S::XPR2, comprising: (7988-1461) FBAINm: Yarrowia lipolytica FBAINm promoter (WO 2005/049805) EgD8S: codon-optimized delta-8 desaturase gene (SEQ ID NO: 9, identified as “D8-corrected” in FIG. 6D), derived from Euglena gracilis (SEQ ID NO: 11) XPR2: ~100 bp of the 3′ region of the Yarrowia Xpr gene (GenBank Accession No. M17741) 2601-1721 ColE1 plasmid origin of replication 3531-2671 Ampicillin-resistance gene (Amp^(R)) for selection in E. coli 4430-5734 Yarrowia autonomous replication sequence (ARS18; GenBank Accession No. A17608) 7942-5741 Yarrowia Leu2 gene (GenBank Accession No. AF260230)

Example 5 Development of A Quick Screen to Functionally Analyze Delta-8 Desaturase Activity in Yarrowia lipolytica

A set of 40 mutations was created using pFmD8S (Example 4) as template and 40 pairs of oligonucleotide primers to individually mutate targeted amino acid residues within EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10) by site-directed mutagenesis (QuikChange® Kit, Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.). Specific mutations were selected from those set forth in Table 7 of Example 2 and primer pairs were selected from the oligonucleotides set forth in SEQ ID NOs:24-164, such that creation of the M1 mutation (i.e., 4S to A, 5K to S within SEQ ID NO:10) required primers 1A and 1B (SEQ ID NOs:24 and 25, respectively), etc. Plasmids from each mutation were transformed into E. coli XL2Blue cells (Stratagene). Four colonies from each of the 40 transformations were picked and grown individually in liquid media at 37° C. overnight. Plasmids (i.e., 160 total) were isolated from these cultures and sequenced individually to confirm the mutations.

Plasmid pFmD8S and the isolated mutant plasmids were transformed into strain Y4001 (Example 3) individually, as described in the General Methods. The transformants were selected on MM plates. After 2 days growth at 30° C., transformants were scraped from each plate, lipids were extracted, and fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by trans-esterification, and subsequently analyzed with a Hewlett-Packard 6890 GC.

GC analyses showed that there were about 7% DGLA and 12% EDA of total lipids produced by the transformants with plasmid pFmD8S; the average conversion efficiency whereby EgD8S converted EDA to DGLA in the transformants was 36.8%. The conversion efficiency for delta-8 desaturase (also referred to as the delta-8 desaturase activity) was measured according to the following formula: ([product]/[substrate+product])*100, where ‘product’ includes the immediate product and all products in the pathway derived from it.

GC analyses of transformants carrying mutations within EgD8S showed that 30 of the 40 mutations did not affect the delta-8 desaturase activity (when compared to the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S delta-8 desaturase activity in transformants carrying plasmid pFmD8S). These results suggested that the screening procedure described herein (i.e., with pFmD8S as parent plasmid and strain Y4001 as a host) could be used to quickly screen the EgD8S mutants and identify which mutations negatively affected delta-8 desaturase activity.

Based on these results, the remaining 30 mutations set forth in Table 7 of Example 2 were synthesized (although some mutations were introduced in combination for efficiency), using the methodology described above. Table 12 describes the delta-8 desaturase relative activity attributed to each mutation site (i.e., M1 to M70), as a percent of the delta-8 desaturase activity resulting in each mutant EgD8S with respect to the delta-8 desaturase activity of the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10). As seen in Table 12, delta-8 desaturase relative activity ranged from 0% up to 125%.

TABLE 12 Mutant Delta-8 Desaturase Activities Relative Mutations Primers Used Activity % M1 1A, 1B 115% (SEQ ID NOs: 24 and 25) M2 2A, 2B 110% (SEQ ID NOs: 26 and 27) M3 3A, 3B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 28 and 29) M4 4A, 4B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 30 and 31) M5 5A, 5B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 32 and 33) M6 6A, 6B 110% (SEQ ID NOs: 34 and 35) M7 7A, 7B  30% (SEQ ID NOs: 36 and 37) M8 8A, 8B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 38 and 39) M9 9A, 9B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 40 and 41) M10 10A, 10B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 42 and 43) M11 11A, 11B  20% (SEQ ID NOs: 44 and 45) M12 12A, 12B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 46 and 47) M13 13A, 13B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 48 and 49) M14 14A, 14B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 50 and 51) M15 15A, 15B 125% (SEQ ID NOs: 52 and 53) M16 16A, 16B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 54 and 55) M17 17A, 17B  50% (SEQ ID NOs: 56 and 57) M18 18A, 18B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 58 and 59) M19 19A, 19B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 60 and 61) M20 20A, 20B  80% (SEQ ID NOs: 62 and 63) M21 21A, 21B 120% (SEQ ID NOs: 64 and 65) M22 22A, 22B 110% (SEQ ID NOs: 66 and 67) M23 23A, 23B  80% (SEQ ID NOs: 68 and 69) M24 24A, 24B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 71) M25 25A, 25B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 73) M26 26A, 26B 110% (SEQ ID NOs: 74 and 75) M27 27A, 27B  80% (SEQ ID NOs: 76 and 77) M28 28A, 28B  90% (SEQ ID NOs: 78 and 79) M29 29A, 29B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 80 and 81) M30 30A, 30B  85% (SEQ ID NOs: 82 and 83) M31 31A, 31B  85% (SEQ ID NOs: 84 and 85) M32 32A, 32B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 86 and 87) M33 33A, 33B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 88 and 89) M34 34A, 34B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 90 and 91) M35 35A, 35B  0% (SEQ ID NOs: 92 and 93) M36 36A, 36B  80% (SEQ ID NOs: 94 and 95) M37 37A, 37B  90% (SEQ ID NOs: 96 and 97) M38 38A, 38B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 98 and 99) M39 39A, 39B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 100 and 101) M40 40A, 40B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 102 and 103) M41 41A, 41B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 104 and 105) M42 42A, 42B  0% (SEQ ID NOs: 106 and 107) M43 43A, 43B  90% (SEQ ID NOs: 108 and 109) M44 44A, 44B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 110 and 111) M45 45A, 45B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 112 and 113) M46 46A, 46B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 114 and 115) M47 47A, 47B  0% (SEQ ID NOs: 116 and 117) M48 48A, 48B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 118 and 119) M49 49A, 49B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 120 and 121) M50 50A, 50B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 122 and 123) M51 51A, 51B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 124 and 125) M51B 51A, 51B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 126 and 125) M52 52A, 52B  80% (SEQ ID NOs: 127 and 128) M53 53A, 53B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 129 and 130) M54 54A, 54B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 131 and 132) M55 55A, 55B  40% (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) M56 56A, 56B  0% (SEQ ID NOs: 135 and 136) M57 57A, 57B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 137 and 138) M58 58A, 58B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 139 and 140) M59 59A, 59B  90% (SEQ ID NOs: 141 and 142) M60 60A, 60B  50% (SEQ ID NOs: 143 and 144) M61 61A, 61B  50% (SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146) M62 62A, 62B  50% (SEQ ID NOs: 147 and 148) M63 63A, 63B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 149 and 150) M64 64A, 64B  60% (SEQ ID NOs: 151 and 152) M65 65A, 65B  0% (SEQ ID NOs: 153 and 154) M66 66A, 66B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 155 and 156) M67 67A, 67B N/A (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158) M68 68A, 68B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 159 and 160) M69 69A, 69B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 161 and 162) M70 70A, 70B 100% (SEQ ID NOs: 163 and 164) *N/A is reported when the desired mutation was not successfully produced of when GC data was lacking.

Example 6 Generation of pFmD8S-1, pFmD8S-001, pFmD8S-2A, pFmD8S-2B, pFmD8S-3A, pFmD8S-3B, pFmD8S-003, pFmD8S-4, pFmD8S-004, pFmD8S-005 and pFmD8S-006 Constructs By Site-Directed Mutagenesis of Eg8S within Construct pFmD8S

A series of plasmids were generated by consecutive rounds of continued site-directed mutagenesis to introduce multiple select mutations into EgD8S (SEQ ID NOs:9 and 10). pFmD8S (Example 4), comprising the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S, was used as the starting template in Tables 13, 14, 16 and 17, while a mutant created thereof (i.e., pFmD8S-M45, comprising 117G to A and 118Y to F mutations with respect to SEQ ID NO:10) was used as the starting template in Table 15. The resulting plasmids comprising mutant EgD8S sequences, as well as details concerning the primers used to produce these mutations, are described in Tables 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

The column titled “Mutation Site Introduced” refers to the specific amino acid sites selected for mutation, as listed in Table 7 of Example 2. In the column titled “Total Mutations In Resultant Plasmid With Respect to EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10)”, those amino acid mutations that are highlighted in bold-face text correspond to newly introduced mutations that were not present in the template in the indicated round of site-directed mutagenesis. The number shown in parentheses corresponds with the number of total mutations in the resultant plasmid with respect to EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10).

TABLE 13 Generation Of pFmD8S-1 And pFmD8S-001 Constructs Total Mutations In Round - Resultant Plasmid Mutation With Respect to Site Resultant EgD8S (SEQ ID Introduced Template Primers Plasmid NO: 10) 1 - pFmD8S 3A, 3B pFmD8S-M3 16T to K, 17T to V M3 (SEQ ID NOs: 28 (2) and 29) 2 - pFmD8S- 1A, 1B pFmD8S-M3, 1 16 T to K, 17T to V, M1 M3 (SEQ ID NOs: 24 4S to A, 5K to S and 25) (4) 3 - pFmD8S- 2A, 2B pFmD8S- 16 T to K, 17T to V, M2 M3, 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 26 M3, 1, 2 4S to A, 5K to S, and 27) 12T to V (5) 4 - pFmD8S- 8A, 8B pFmD8S-1 16 T to K, 17T to V, M8 M3, 1, 2 (SEQ ID NOs: 38 4S to A, 5K to S, and 39) 12T to V, 66P to Q, 67S to A (7) 5 - pFmD8S-1 38A, 38B pFmD8S-001 16 T to K, 17T to V, M38 (SEQ ID NOs: 98 4S to A, 5K to S, and 99) 12T to V, 65P to Q, 66S to A, 54A to G, 55F to Y (9)

TABLE 14 Generation Of pFmD8S-2A And pFmD8S-003 Constructs Total Mutations In Round - Resultant Plasmid Mutation With Respect to Site Resultant EgD8S (SEQ ID Introduced Template Primers Plasmid NO: 10) 1 - pFmD8S 45A, 45B pFmD8S-M45 117G to A, 118Y to M45 (SEQ ID NOs: 112 F (2) and 113) 2 - pFmD8S- 21A, 21B pFmD8S- 117G to A, 118Y to M21 M45 (SEQ ID NOs: 64 M45, 21 F, 125Q to H, and 65) 126M to L (4) 3 - pFmD8S- 16A, 16B pFmD8S- 117G to A, 118Y to M16 M45, 21 (SEQ ID NOs: 54 M45, 21, 16 F, 125Q to H, and 55) 126M to L, 108S to L (5) 4 - pFmD8S- 18A,18B pFmD8S-2A 117G to A, 118Y to M18 M45, 21, 16 (SEQ ID NOs: 58 F, 125Q to H, and 59) 126M to L, 108S to L, 120L to M, 121M to L (7) 5 - pFmD8S- 68A, 68B pFmD8S-003 117G to A, 118Y to M68, M69 2A (SEQ ID NOs: 159 F, 125Q to H, and 160) 126M to L, 108S to 69A, 69B L, 120L to M, (SEQ ID NOs: 161 121M to L, 162L to and 162) V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V (11)

TABLE 15 Generation Of pFmD8S-2B And pFmD8S-004 Constructs Total Mutations In Round - Resultant Plasmid Mutation With Respect to Site Resultant EgD8S (SEQ ID Introduced Template Primers Plasmid NO: 10) 1 - pFmD8S- 46A, 46B pFmD8S- 117G to A, 118Y to M46 M45 (SEQ ID NOs: 114 M45, 46 F, 132V to L, and 115) 133 L to V (4) 2 - pFmD8S- 16A, 16B pFmD8S- 117G to A, 118Y to M16, M21 M45, 46 (SEQ ID NOs: 54 M45, 46, 16, 21 F, 132V to L, and 55) 133 L to V, 108S to 21A, 21B L, 125Q to H, (SEQ ID NOs: 64 126M to L (7) and 65) 3 - pFmD8S- 18A, 18B pFmD8S-2B 117G to A, 118Y to M18 M45, 46, 16, (SEQ ID NOs: 58 F, 132V to L, 21 and 59) 133 L to V, 108S to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 120L to M, 121M to L (9) 4 - pFmD8S- 68A, 68B pFmD8S-004 117G to A, 118Y to M68, M69 2B (SEQ ID NOs: 159 F, 132V to L, and 160) 133 L to V, 108S to 69A, 69B L, 125Q to H, (SEQ ID NOs: 161 126M to L, 120L to and 162) M, 121M to L, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V (13)

TABLE 16 Generation Of pFmD8S-3A, pFmD8S-3B And pFmD8S-005 Constructs Total Mutations In Round - Resultant Plasmid Mutation With Respect to Site Resultant EgD8S (SEQ ID Introduced Template Primers Plasmid NO: 10) 1 - pFmD8S 49A, 49B pFmD8S-M49 297F to V, 298V to L (2) M49 (SEQ ID NOs: 120 and 121) 2 - pFmD8S- 26A, 26B pFmD8S- 297F to V, 298V to M26 M49 (SEQ ID NOs: 74 M49, 26 L, 293L to M (3) and 75) 3A - pFmD8S- 61A, 61B pFmD8S-3A 297F to V, 298V to M61 M49, 26 (SEQ ID NOs: 145 L, 293L to M, and 146) 239F to I, 240I to F (5) 3B - pFmD8S- 62A, 62B pFmD8S-3B 297F to V, 298V to M62, M63 M49, 26 (SEQ ID NOs: 147 L, 293L to M, and 148) 271L to M, 272A to 63A, 63B S, 279T to L, (SEQ ID NOs: 149 280L to T (7) and 150) 4 - pFmD8S- 63A, 63B pFmD8S-005 297F to V, 298V to M63 3A (SEQ ID NOs: 149 L, 293L to M, and 150) 239F to I, 240I to F, 279T to L, 280L to T (7)

TABLE 17 Generation Of pFmD8S-4 And pFmD8S-006 Constructs Total Mutations In Round - Resultant Plasmid Mutation With Respect to Site Resultant EgD8S (SEQ ID Introduced Template Primers Plasmid NO: 10) 1 - pFmD8S 51A, 51B pFmD8S-M51 346I to V, 347I to M51B (SEQ ID NOs: 126 L, 348T to S (3) and 125) 2 - pFmD8S- 15A, 15B pFmD8S- 346I to V, 347I to L, M15 M51 (SEQ ID NOs: 52 M51, 15 348T to S, and 53) 422L to Q (4) 3 - pFmD8S- 14A, 14B pFmD8S- 346I to V, 347I to L, M14 M51, 15 (SEQ ID NOs: 50 M51, 15, 14 348T to S, and 51) 422L to Q, 416Q to V, 417P to Y (6) 4 - pFmD8S- 12A, 12B pFmD8S-4 346I to V, 347I to L, M12 M51, 15, 14 (SEQ ID NOs: 46 348T to S, and 47) 422L to Q, 416Q to V, 417P to Y, 407A to S, 408V to Q (8) 5 - pFmD8S-4 70, 70B pFmD8S-006 346I to V, 347I to L, M70 (SEQ ID NOs: 163 348T to S, and 164) 422L to Q, 416Q to V, 417P to Y, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A (10)

After each round of mutagenesis, the mutations in each resulting plasmid was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Additionally, the delta-8 desaturase activity of each mutant EgD8S within each mutant plasmid was compared with the delta-8 desaturase activity of the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S within pFmD8S by transforming the plasmids into strain Y4001 (Example 3) and assaying activity based on the methodology described in Example 5. Based on these functional analyses, it was demonstrated that the mutations in all 24 of the mutant EgD8S genes within the resultant plasmids generated in Tables 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 did not affect delta-8 desaturase activity (i.e., pFmD8S-M3; pFmD8S-M3,1; pFmD8S-M3,1,2; pFmD8S-1; pFmD8S-001; pFmD8S-M45; pFmD8S-M45,21; pFmD8S-M45,21,16; pFmD8S-2A; pFmD8S-003; pFmD8S-M45,46; pFmD8S-M45,46,16,21; pFmD8S-2B; pFmD8S-004; pFmD8S-M49; pFmD8S-M49,26; pFmD8S-3A; pFmD8S-3B; pFmD8S-005; pFmD8S-M51; pFmD8S-M51,15; pFmD8S-M51,15,14; pFmD8S-4; and pFmD8S-006).

Example 7 Generation of Complex Construct pFmD8S-5B By Digestion and Ligation of Multiple Parent Plasmids

Plasmid pFmD8S-5B contained 16 mutant amino acids within the first half of EgD8S. This plasmid was generated by 3-way ligation, wherein the 318 bp Nco I/Bgl II fragment from pFmD8S-1 (containing 7 amino acid mutations, corresponding to M1, M2, M3 and M8) and the 954 bp Bgl II/Not I fragment from pFmD8S-2B (containing 9 amino acid mutations, corresponding to M16, M18, M21, M45 and M46) were used to replace the Nco I/Not I fragment of pFmD8S (Example 4; FIG. 6D). DNA sequence confirmed that pFmD8S-5B contained the expected 16 amino acid mutations within EgD8S.

The synthesis of plasmid pFmD8S-5B is schematically diagrammed in FIG. 7 (and a similar format is used in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9). For clarity, the pFmD8S vector backbone in which each mutant EgD8S is contained is not included within the figure; instead, only the 1272 bases corresponding to the mutant EgD8S are shown (wherein the coding sequence for the delta-8 desaturase corresponds to nucleotide bases 2-1270). Thus, the mutant EgD8S fragment labeled as “Mutant EgD8S-1” in FIG. 7 corresponds to the mutant EgD8S found within plasmid pFmD8S-1 and the mutant EgD8S fragment labeled as “Mutant EgD8S-2B” in FIG. 7 corresponds to the mutant EgD8S found within plasmid pFmD8S-2B.

Similarly, the Nco I and Not I restriction enzyme sites that flank each mutant EgD8S gene are not included in the figure. The Nco I nucleotide recognition sequence (“CCATGG”) corresponds to the −2 to +4 region of the mutant EgD8S, wherein the ‘A’ position of the ‘ATG’ translation initiation codon is designated as +1; the first nucleotide recognized as part of the Not I nucleotide recognition sequence is nucleotide+1271 of mutant EgD8S, wherein the ‘TAA’ STOP codon of mutant EgD8S is located at +1269 to +1270.

Mutation sites are labeled on each mutant EgD8S. Those mutation sites shown with an asterisk correspond to a single amino acid mutation (i.e., M2* corresponds to a mutation of 12T to V), while those lacking an asterisk correspond to two individual amino acid mutations (i.e., M1 corresponds to mutations 4S to A and 5K to S); those mutation sites shown with 2 asterisks correspond to a triple amino acid mutation (i.e., M51** corresponds to mutations 346I to V, 347I to L and 348T to S).

The delta-8 desaturase activity of mutant EgD8S-5B within pFmD8S-5B was compared with the delta-8 desaturase activity of the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S within pFmD8S by transforming each plasmid into strain Y4001 (Example 3) and assaying the activity based on the methodology described in Example 5. Based on this analysis, it was determined that the 16 amino acid mutations within mutant EgD8S-5B (i.e., 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 132V to L and 133L to V, corresponding to mutation sites M1, M2, M3, M8, M16, M18, M21, M45 and M46) in pFmD8S-5B did not affect the delta-8 desaturase activity.

Example 8 Generation of pFmD8S-12, pFmD8S-13, pFmD8S-23 and pFmD8S-28 Constructs by Additional Site-Directed Mutagenesis of Mutant EgD8S-5B within Construct pFmD8S-5B

An additional series of plasmids were generated by consecutive rounds of continued site-directed mutagenesis to introduce multiple select mutations into mutant EgD8S-5B, using pFmD8S-5B (Example 7) as the starting template. The resulting plasmids comprising mutant EgD8S sequences, as well as details concerning the primers used to produce these mutations, are described below in Table 18. Format and column titles of Table 18 are the same as defined above in Example 6.

TABLE 18 Generation Of pFmD8S-12, pFmD8S-13, pFmD8S-23 And pFmD8S-28 Constructs Total Mutations In Resultant Round - Plasmid With Mutation Respect to Site Resultant EgD8S (SEQ ID NO: Introduced Template Primers Plasmid 10) 1A - pFmD8S- 12A, 12B (SEQ ID pFmD8S-12 4S to A, 5K to S, M12, M15, 5B NOs: 46 and 47) 12T to V, 16T to M26 15A, 15B (SEQ ID K, 17T to V, 66P NOs: 52 and 53) to Q, 67S to A, 26A, 26B (SEQ ID 108S to L, 120L NOs: 74 and 75) to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 132V to L, 133 L to V, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 422L to Q, 293L to M (20) 1B - pFmD8S- 12A, 12B (SEQ ID pFmD8S-13 4S to A, 5K to S, M12, M15, 5B NOs: 46 and 47) 12T to V, 16T to M26, 15A, 15B (SEQ ID K, 17T to V, 66P M51B NOs: 52 and 53) to Q, 67S to A, 26A, 26B (SEQ ID 108S to L, 120L NOs: 74 and 75) to M, 121M to L, 51A, 51B (SEQ ID 125Q to H, 126M NOs: 126 and 125) to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 132V to L, 133 L to V, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 422L to Q, 293L to M, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S (23) 2A - pFmD8S- 68A, 68B (SEQ ID pFmD8S-23 4S to A, 5K to S, M68, M70 12 NOs: 159 and 160) 12T to V, 16T to 70A, 70B (SEQ ID K, 17T to V, 66P NOs: 163 and 164) to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 132V to L, 133 L to V, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 422L to Q, 293L to M, 162L to V, 163V to L, 418A to G, 419G to A (24) 2B - pFmD8S- 38A, 38B (SEQ ID pFmD8S-28 4S to A, 5K to S, M38, M63, 13 NOs: 98 and 99) 12T to V, 16T to M68, M69, 63A, 63B (SEQ ID K, 17T to V, 66P M70 NOs: 149 and 150) to Q, 67S to A, 68A, 68B (SEQ ID 108S to L, 120L NOs: 159 and 160) to M, 121M to L, 69A, 69B (SEQ ID 125Q to H, 126M NOs: 161 and 162) to L, 117G to A, 70A, 70B (SEQ ID 118Y to F, 132V NOs: 163 and 164) to L, 133 L to V, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 422L to Q, 293L to M, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 279T to L, 280L to T, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 418A to G, 419G to A (33)

After each round of mutagenesis, the mutations in the resulting plasmid were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Additionally, the delta-8 desaturase activity of each mutant EgD8S within each mutated plasmid was compared with the delta-8 desaturase activity of the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S within pFmD8S by transforming the plasmids into strain Y4001 (Example 3) and assaying activity based on the methodology described in Example 5. Based on these functional analyses, it was demonstrated that the 20 mutations in mutant EgD8S-12 within pFmD8S-12, the 23 mutations in mutant EgD8S-13 within pFmD8S-13, the 24 mutations in mutant EgD8S-23 within pFmD8S-23 and the 33 mutations in mutant EgD8S-28 within pFmD8S-28 did not affect the delta-8 desaturase activity.

Example 9 Generation of Complex Constructs pFmD8S-008, pFmD8S-009, pFmD8S-013 and pFmD8S-015 by Digestion and Ligation of Multiple Parent Plasmids

Plasmids pFmD8S-008 and pFmD8S-009 contained 20 and 22 mutant amino acids within the first half of EgD8S, respectively. These plasmids were generated by 3-way ligation, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, respectively (figure format is identical to that described for FIG. 7 in Example 7). Specifically, the 318 bp Nco I/Bgl II fragment from pFmD8S-001 (containing 9 amino acid mutations in mutant EgD8S-001 corresponding to M1, M2, M3, M8 and M38) and the 954 bp Bgl II/Not I fragment from either pFmD8S-003 (containing 11 amino acid mutations in mutant EgD8S-003 corresponding to M16, M18, M21, M45, M68 and M69) or pFmD8S-004 (containing 13 amino acid mutations in mutant EgD8S-004, corresponding to M16, M18, M21, M45, M46, M68 and M69) were used to replace the Nco I/Not I fragment of pFmD8S (Example 4; FIG. 6D) to generate mutant EgD8S-008 within pFmD8S-008 and mutant EgD8S-009 within pFmD8S-009, respectively. DNA sequence confirmed that mutant EgD8S-008 contained 20 amino acid mutations and mutant EgD8S-009 contained 22 amino acid mutations, as expected.

Plasmids pFmD8S-013 and pFmD8S-015, containing 28 and 31 amino acid mutations within mutant EgD8S-013 and mutant EgD8S-015, respectively, were created using a similar 3-way ligation strategy as shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B (figure format is identical to that described for FIG. 7 in Example 7). The 639 bp Nco I/Xho I fragment from either pFmD8S-009 (containing 22 amino acid mutations within mutant EgD8S-009) or pFmD8S-008 (containing 20 amino acid mutations within mutant EgD8S-008) and the 633 bp Xho I/Not I fragment from either pFmD8S-23 (Example 8, containing 6 amino acid mutations within mutant EgD8S-23, corresponding to M12, M15, M26 and M70) or pFmD8S-28 (Example 8, containing 11 amino acid mutations within mutant EgD8S-28, corresponding to M12, M15, M26, M51B, M63 and M70) were used to replace the Nco I/Not I fragment of pFmD8S (Example 4; FIG. 6D) to generate pFmD8S-013 and pFmD8S-015, respectively. DNA sequence confirmed that mutant EgD8S-013 and mutant EgD8S-015 contained 28 amino acid mutations and 31 amino acid mutations, respectively.

The delta-8 desaturase activity of mutant EgD8S-008 within pFmD8S-008, mutant EgD8S-009 within pFmD8S-009, mutant EgD8S-013 within pFmD8S-013 and mutant EgD8S-015 within pFmD8S-015 were compared with the delta-8 desaturase activity of the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S within pFmD8S by transforming these plasmids into strain Y4001 (Example 3) and assaying activity based on the methodology described in Example 5. Based on these functional analyses, it was demonstrated the delta-8 desaturase activity was not affected by the 20 mutations in mutant EgD8S-008 within pFmD8S-008 (i.e., 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A and 171L to V, corresponding to mutation sites M1, M2, M3, M8, M16, M18, M21, M38, M45, M68 and M69), the 22 mutations in mutant EgD8S-009 within pFmD8S-009 (i.e., 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 132V to L, 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A and 171L to V, corresponding to mutation sites M1, M2, M3, M8, M16, M18, M21, M38, M45, M46, M68 and M69), the 28 mutations in mutant EgD8S-013 within pFmD8S-013 (i.e., 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 422L to Q, 108S to L, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 293L to M, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 132V to L, 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 418A to G and 419G to A, corresponding to mutation sites M1, M2, M3, M8, M12, M15, M16, M18, M21, M26, M38, M45, M46, M68, M69, M70) or the 31 mutations in mutant EgD8S-015 within pFmD8S-015 (i.e., 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 422L to Q, 108S to L, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 293L to M, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S, 279T to L, 280L to T, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 418A to G and 419G to A, corresponding to mutation sites M1, M2, M3, M8, M12, M15, M16, M18, M21, M26, M38, M45, M51B, M63, M68, M69, M70).

FIG. 10 shows an alignment of EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10), Mutant EgD8S-23 (SEQ ID NO:4; Example 8), Mutant EgD8S-013 (SEQ ID NO:6; Example 9) and Mutant EgD8S-015 (SEQ ID NO:8; Example 9). The method of alignment used corresponds to the “Clustal W method of alignment”.

Example 10 Comparison of Delta-8 Desaturase Activities Among the Synthetic Codon-Optimized EgD8S and its Mutants Upon Integration into the Yarrowia lipolytica Genome

This Example describes quantitative analyses of the delta-8 desaturase activities of EgD8S and mutants thereof included within pFmD8S-23, pFmD8S-013 and pFmD8S-015. This comparison required each of the chimeric genes comprising EgD8S (or a mutant thereof) to be inserted into the pKO2UFkF2 vector backbone. Specifically, pKO2UFkF2 comprised a 5′ and 3′ portion of the Yarrowia lipolytica delta-12 desaturase gene that was designed to target integration to this locus (although plasmid integration could also occur via random integration into other sites of the genome). Thus, the activities of the chimeric genes containing the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S, mutant EgD8S-023, mutant EgD8S-013 and mutant EgD8S-015 in the Yarrowia genome (i.e., 1 copy) could be more fairly compared upon integration into the Yarrowia genome, as opposed to the delta-8 desaturase activity levels that were obtained upon plasmid expression (i.e., via expression in pFmD8S as 1-3 copies) and reported in previous examples.

The components of pKO2UFkF2 are as described in Table 19 below.

TABLE 19 Components Of Plasmid pKO2UFkF2 (SEQ ID NO: 165) RE Sites And Nucleotides Within SEQ ID Description Of NO: 165 Fragment And Chimeric Gene Components SwaI/BsiWI FBAINm::F.D12::Pex20, comprising: 7638-1722 FBAINm: Yarrowia lipolytica FBAINm promoter (WO 2005/049805) F.D12: Fusarium moniliforme delta-12 desaturase gene (WO 2005/047485) Pex20: Pex20 terminator sequence of Yarrowia Pex20 gene (GenBank Accession No. AF054613) AscI/BsiWI 5′ portion of Yarrowia lipolytica delta-12 desaturase gene 2459-1722 (WO 2004/104167) EcoRI/SphI 3′ portion of Yarrowia lipolytica delta-12 desaturase gene 5723-5167 (WO 2004/104167) EcoRI/PacI Yarrowia Ura3 gene (GenBank Accession No. 5723-7240 AJ306421)

First, the Swa I/Not I fragment from pFmD8S (comprising the chimeric FBAINm::EgD8S gene, wherein EgD8S is identified as “D8-corrected” in FIG. 6D) was used to replace the Swa I/NotI fragment of pKO2UFkF2 (comprising the chimeric FBAINm::F.D12 gene) to generate construct pKO2UFm8 (FIG. 11A). The same methodology was used to replace the SwaI/NotI fragment of pKO2UFkF2 with the Swa I/Not I fragments of pFmD8S-23, pFmD8S-013 and pFmD8S-015, respectively, thereby creating constructs pKO2UFm8-23, pKO2UFm8-013 and pKO2UFm8-015, respectively. As such, the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S, mutant EgD8S-023, mutant EgD8S-013 and mutant EgD8S-015 were each under the control of the FBAINm promoter and the Pex20 terminator.

Plasmids pKO2UFm8, pKO2UFm8-23, pKO2UFm8-013 and pKO2UFm8-015 were digested with AscI/SphI, and then used for transformation of strain Y4001 individually according to the General Methods. Following transformation, cells were plated onto MM plates and maintained at 30° C. for 2 to 3 days.

A total of 6 transformants from each transformation were picked and re-streaked onto fresh MM plates. Once grown, these strains were individually inoculated into liquid MM at 30° C. and grown with shaking at 250 rpm/min for 1 day. The cells were collected by centrifugation, lipids were extracted, and fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by trans-esterification, and subsequently analyzed with a Hewlett-Packard 6890 GC. Delta-8 desaturase activity of each delta-8 desaturase are shown below in Table 20; conversion efficiency was calculated as described in Example 5.

TABLE 20 Delta-8 Desaturase Activity In EgD8S And Its Mutants Mutations With Respect To EgD8S Conversion Plasmid (SEQ ID NO: 10) Efficiency pKO2UFm8 none 37.9%  (comprising (average) wildtype EgD8S [SEQ ID NO: 10]) pKO2UFm8S- 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K,   35%, 23 (comprising 17T to V, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L,   35%, mutant 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 36.1%, EgD8S-23 126M to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 36.2%, [SEQ ID 132V to L, 133L to V, 407A to S, 39.8%, NO: 4]) 408V to Q, 422L to Q, 293L to M,   40% 162L to V, 163V to L, 418A to G, 419G to A (24) pKO2UFm8S- 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17.8%  013 17T to V, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 407A to S, 18.4%, (comprising 408V to Q, 422L to Q, 108S to L, 18.6%, mutant 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 24.4%, EgD8S-013 126M to L, 293L to M, 54A to G, 55F to 34.4%  [SEQ ID Y, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 132V to L, 39.1%  NO: 6]) 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 70.8%  170G to A, 171L to V, 418A to G and 419G to A (28) pKO2UFm8S- 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17.3%, 015 17T to V, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 407A to S, 19.8%, (comprising 408V to Q, 422L to Q, 108S to L,   20%, mutant 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M 20.1%  EgD8S-015 to L, 293L to M, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 29.2%, [SEQ ID 117G to A, 118Y to F, 346I to V, 33.5%  NO: 8]) 347I to L, 348T to S, 279T to L, 280L to 38.5%  T, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 418A to G and 419G to A (31)

The different conversion efficiencies observed for each specific mutant EgD8S may be attributed to a “position effect” based on the respective locations of each gene's integration within the Yarrowia genome. In any case, the results demonstrate that several of the transformants comprising mutant EgD8S-23 (SEQ ID NO:4), mutant EgD8S-013 (SEQ ID NO:6) and mutant EgD8S-015 (SEQ ID NO:8) possessed delta-8 desaturase activity that was at least functionally equivalent (or increased) with respect to that of the synthetic codon-optimized EgD8S (SEQ ID NO:10).

Example 11 Generation of Yarrowia lipolytica Strains Y4031, Y4032 and Y4033 to Produce about 10-13.6% DGLA of Total Lipids

The present Example describes the construction of strains Y4031, Y4032 and Y4033, derived from Yarrowia lipolytica Y4001U (Example 3), capable of producing 10-13.6% DGLA (C20:3) relative to the total lipids. These strains were engineered to express the delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway, via expression of a mutant delta-8 desaturase of the present invention and a delta-9 elongase.

More specifically, construct pKO2UF8289 (FIG. 11B; SEQ ID NO:181) was created to integrate a cluster of four chimeric genes (comprising a delta-12 desaturase, two copies of the mutant EgD8-23 and one delta-9 elongase) into the delta-12 gene locus of Yarrowia genome in strain Y4001U. Construct pKO2UF8289 contained the following components:

TABLE 21 Description Of Plasmid pKO2UF8289 (SEQ ID NO: 181) RE Sites And Nucleotides Within SEQ ID Description Of NO: 181 Fragment And Chimeric Gene Components AscI/BsiW I 5′ portion of Yarrowia lipolytica delta-12 desaturase gene (10304-9567) (WO 2004/104167) EcoRI/Sph I 3′ portion of Yarrowia lipolytica delta-12 desaturase gene (13568-13012) (WO 2004/104167) Cla I/EcoR I LoxP::Ura3::LoxP, comprising: (1-13568) LoxP sequence (SEQ ID NO: 18) Yarrowia Ura3 gene (GenBank Accession No. AJ306421) LoxP sequence (SEQ ID NO: 18) PmeI/ClaI GPAT::EgD9E::Lip2, comprising: (2038-1) GPAT: Yarrowia lipolytica GPAT promoter (WO 2006/031937) EgD9E: codon-optimized delta-9 elongase gene (SEQ ID NO: 177), derived from Euglena gracilis (SEQ ID NOs: 175 and 176; U.S. Patent Application No. 60/739989; see also Example 16 herein) Lip2: Lip2 terminator sequence from Yarrowia Lip1 gene (GenBank Accession No. AJ012632) PmeI/PacI Exp::D8-23::Pex16, comprising: (4581-2124) Exp: Yarrowia lipolytica export protein (EXP1) promoter (WO 2006/052870 and U.S. Patent Application No. 11/265761) D8-23: mutant EgD8S-23 (Example 8; SEQ ID NO: 4) Pex16: Pex16 terminator sequence of Yarrowia Pex 16 gene (GenBank Accession No. U75433) Swa I/Pme I YAT::F. D12::Oct, comprising: (7055-4581) YAT: Yarrowia lipolytica YAT1 promoter (Patent Publication US 2006/0094102-A1) F.D12: Fusarium moniliforme delta-12 desaturase gene (WO 2005/047485) OCT: OCT terminator sequence of Yarrowia OCT gene (GenBank Accession No. X69988) Swa I/BsiW I FBAINm::D8S-23::Pex20, comprising: (7055-9567) FBAINm: Yarrowia lipolytica FBAINm promoter (WO 2005/049805) D8S-23: mutant EgD8S-23 (Example 8; SEQ ID NO: 4) Pex20: Pex20 terminator sequence of Yarrowia Pex20 gene (GenBank Accession No. AF054613)

Plasmid pKO2UF8289 was digested with Asc I/Sph 1, and then used for transformation of Y. lipolytica strain Y4001U (Example 3) according to the General Methods. The transformant cells were plated onto MMLeu media plates and maintained at 30° C. for 2 to 3 days. The colonies were picked and streaked onto MMLeu selection plates at 30° C. for 2 days. These cells were then inoculated into liquid MMLeu at 30° C. and shaken at 250 rpm/min for 2 days. The cells were collected by centrifugation, lipids were extracted, and fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by trans-esterification, and subsequently analyzed with a Hewlett-Packard 6890 GC.

GC analyses showed the presence of DGLA in the transformants containing the 4 chimeric genes of pKO2UF8289, but not in the Yarrowia Y4001U control strain. Most of the selected 12 strains produced about 4 to 8% DGLA of total lipids. There were 3 strains (i.e., strains #7, #8 and #12) that produced about 11.3%, 10% and 13.6% DGLA of total lipids; they were designated as strains Y4031, Y4031 and Y4033, respectively.

Example 12 Cloning the Euglena gracilis Delta-8 Desaturase Mutant (EgD8S-23) into a Soybean Expression Vector and Co-Expression with the Isochrysis galbana Delta-9 Elongase

The present Example describes the construction of soybean expression vector pKR1060, suitable for use in the production of DGLA (C20:3). This vector was engineered to enable expression of the delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway, via expression of a mutant delta-8 desaturase of the present invention and a delta-9 elongase.

Through a number of cloning steps, a NotI site was added to the 5′ end of the EgD8S-23 gene from pKO2UFm8S-23 (Table 20, Example 10) to produce the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:182.

Vector pKR457 (SEQ ID NO:183), which was previously described in PCT Publication No. WO 2005/047479 (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference), contains a NotI site flanked by the Kunitz soybean Trypsin Inhibitor (KTi) promoter (Jofuku et al., Plant Cell 1:1079-1093 (1989)) and the KTi 3′ termination region, the isolation of which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,965, followed by the soy albumin transcription terminator, which was previously described in PCT Publication No. WO 2004/071467 (Kti/NotI/Kti3′Salb3′ cassette).

The NotI fragment containing EgD8S-23 described above, was cloned into the NotI site of pKR457 to produce pKR1058 (SEQ ID NO:184).

Plasmid pKR1058 was digested with PstI and the fragment containing EgD8S-23 was cloned into the SbfI site of pKR607 (SEQ ID NO:185), previously described in PCT Publication No. WO 2006/012325 (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference) to produce pKR1060 (SEQ ID NO:186). In this way, EgD8S-23 is co-expressed with the Isochrysis galbana delta-9 elongase behind strong, seed-specific promoters. A schematic depiction of pKR1060 is shown in FIG. 12.

Example 13 Cloning the Euglena qracilis Delta-8 Desaturase Mutant (EgD8S-23) into a Soybean Expression Vector and Co-Expression with the Euglena gracilis Delta-9 Elongase

The present Example describes the construction of soybean expression vector pKR1059, suitable for use in the production of DGLA (C20:3). This vector was engineered to enable expression of the delta-9 elongase/delta-8 desaturase pathway, via expression of a mutant delta-8 desaturase of the present invention and a delta-9 elongase.

The Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase (SEQ ID NO:175; U.S. Patent Application No. 60/739,989; see also Example 16 herein) was amplified with oligonucleotide primers oEugEL1-1 (SEQ ID NO:187) and oEugEL1-2 (SEQ ID NO:188) using the VentR® DNA Polymerase (Cat. No. M0254S, New England Biolabs Inc., Beverly, Mass.) following the manufacturer's protocol. The resulting DNA fragment was cloned into the pCR-Blunt® cloning vector using the Zero Blunt® PCR Cloning Kit (Invitrogen Corporation), following the manufacturer's protocol, to produce pKR906 (SEQ ID NO:189).

A starting plasmid pKR72 (ATCC Accession No. PTA-6019; SEQ ID NO:190, 7085 bp sequence), a derivative of pKS123 which was previously described in PCT Publication No. WO 02/008269 (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference), contains the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (HPT) (Gritz, L. and Davies, J., Gene, 25:179-188 (1983)), flanked by the T7 promoter and transcription terminator (T7prom/hpt/T7term cassette), and a bacterial origin of replication (ori) for selection and replication in bacteria (e.g., E. coli). In addition, pKR72 also contains the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene, flanked by the 35S promoter (Odell et al., Nature, 313:810-812 (1985)) and NOS 3′ transcription terminator (Depicker et al., J. Mol. Appl. Genet., 1:561-570 (1982)) (35S/hpt/NOS3′ cassette) for selection in plants such as soybean. pKR72 also contains a NotI restriction site, flanked by the promoter for the α′ subunit of β-conglycinin (Beachy et al., EMBO J., 4:3047-3053 (1985)) and the 3′ transcription termination region of the phaseolin gene (Doyle et al., J. Biol. Chem. 261:9228-9238 (1986)), thus allowing for strong tissue-specific expression in the seeds of soybean of genes cloned into the NotI site.

The gene for the Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase was released from pKR906 by digestion with NotI and cloned into the NotI site of pKR72 to produce pKR1010 (SEQ ID NO:191). In some instances, pKR1010 is referred to as pKR912 but the two vectors are identical.

Plasmid pKR1058 (from Example 12, SEQ ID NO:184) was digested with PstI and the fragment containing EgD8S-23 was cloned into the SbfI site of pKR1010 (SEQ ID NO:191), to produce pKR1059 (SEQ ID NO:192). In this way, EgD8S-23 is co-expressed with the Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase behind strong, seed-specific promoters. A schematic depiction of pKR1059 is shown in FIG. 13.

Example 14 Co-Expressing Other Promoter/Gene/Terminator Cassette Combinations

In addition to the genes, promoters, terminators and gene cassettes described herein, one skilled in the art can appreciate that other promoter/gene/terminator cassette combinations can be synthesized in a way similar to, but not limited to, that described herein for expression in plants (e.g., soybean). For instance, PCT Publication Nos. WO 2004/071467 and WO 2004/071178 describe the isolation of a number of promoter and transcription terminator sequences for use in embryo-specific expression in soybean. Furthermore, PCT Publication Nos. WO 2004/071467, WO 2005/047479 and WO 2006/012325 describe the synthesis of multiple promoter/gene/terminator cassette combinations by ligating individual promoters, genes and transcription terminators together in unique combinations. Generally, a NotI site flanked by the suitable promoter (such as those listed in, but not limited to, Table 22) and a transcription terminator (such as those listed in, but not limited to, Table 23) is used to clone the desired gene. NotI sites can be added to a gene of interest such as those listed in, but not limited to, Table 24 using PCR amplification with oligonucleotides designed to introduce NotI sites at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the gene. The resulting PCR product is then digested with NotI and cloned into a suitable promoter/NotI/terminator cassette.

In addition, PCT Publication Nos. WO 2004/071467, WO 2005/047479 and WO 2006/012325 describe the further linking together of individual gene cassettes in unique combinations, along with suitable selectable marker cassettes, in order to obtain the desired phenotypic expression. Although this is done mainly using different restriction enzymes sites, one skilled in the art can appreciate that a number of techniques can be utilized to achieve the desired promoter/gene/transcription terminator combination. In so doing, any combination of embryo-specific promoter/gene/transcription terminator cassettes can be achieved. One skilled in the art can also appreciate that these cassettes can be located on individual DNA fragments or on multiple fragments where co-expression of genes is the outcome of co-transformation of multiple DNA fragments.

TABLE 22 Seed-Specific Promoters Promoter Organism Promoter Reference β-conglycinin α′-subunit soybean Beachy et al., EMBO J. 4: 3047-3053 (1985) kunitz trypsin inhibitor soybean Jofuku et al., Plant Cell 1: 1079-1093 (1989) annexin soybean WO 2004/071467 glycinin Gy1 soybean WO 2004/071467 albumin 2S soybean U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,613 legumin A1 pea Rerie et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 225: 148-157 (1991) β-conglycinin β-subunit soybean WO 2004/071467 BD30 (also called P34) soybean WO 2004/071467 legumin A2 pea Rerie et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 225: 148-157 (1991)

TABLE 23 Transcription Terminators Transcription Terminator Organism Reference phaseolin 3′ bean WO 2004/071467 kunitz trypsin inhibitor 3′ soybean WO 2004/071467 BD30 (also called P34) 3′ soybean WO 2004/071467 legumin A2 3′ pea WO 2004/071467 albumin 2S 3′ soybean WO 2004/071467

TABLE 24 EPA Biosynthetic Pathway Genes Gene Organism Reference delta-6 desaturase Saprolegnia diclina WO 2002/081668 delta-6 desaturase Mortierella alpina U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,809 elongase Mortierella alpina WO 2000/12720 U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,349 delta-5 desaturase Mortierella alpina U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,183 delta-5 desaturase Saprolegnia diclina WO 2002/081668 delta-15 desaturase Fusarium WO 2005/047479 moniliforme delta-17 desaturase Saprolegnia diclina WO 2002/081668 elongase Thraustochytrium WO 2002/08401 aureum U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,145 elongase Pavlova sp. Pereira et al., Biochem. J. 384: 357-366 (2004) delta-4 desaturase Schizochytrium WO 2002/090493 aggregatum delta-9 elongase Isochrysis galbana WO 2002/077213 delta-9 elongase Euglena gracilis U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/739,989 delta-8 desaturase Euglena gracilis WO 2000/34439 U.S. Pat. No. 6,825,017 WO 2004/057001 WO 2006/012325 delta-8 desaturase Acanthamoeba Sayanova et al., FEBS castellanii Lett. 580: 1946-1952 (2006) delta-8 desaturase Pavlova salina WO 2005/103253 delta-8 desaturase Pavlova lutheri U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/795,810

Example 15 Transformation of Somatic Soybean Embryo Cultures with Soybean Expression Vectors

Culture Conditions:

Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures (cv. Jack) were maintained in 35 mL liquid medium SB196 (infra) on a rotary shaker, 150 rpm, 26° C. with cool white fluorescent lights on 16:8 hr day/night photoperiod at light intensity of 60-85 μE/m2/s. Cultures were subcultured every 7 days to two weeks by inoculating approximately 35 mg of tissue into 35 mL of fresh liquid SB196 (the preferred subculture interval is every 7 days).

Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures were transformed with the soybean expression plasmids by the method of particle gun bombardment (Klein et al., Nature, 327:70 (1987)) using a DuPont Biolistic PDS1000/HE instrument (helium retrofit) for all transformations.

Soybean Embryogenic Suspension Culture Initiation:

Soybean cultures were initiated twice each month with 5-7 days between each initiation. Pods with immature seeds from available soybean plants were picked 45-55 days after planting. Seeds were removed from the pods and placed into a sterilized magenta box. The soybean seeds were sterilized by shaking them for 15 min in a 5% Clorox solution with 1 drop of ivory soap (i.e., 95 mL of autoclaved distilled water plus 5 mL Clorox and 1 drop of soap, mixed well). Seeds were rinsed using 2 1-liter bottles of sterile distilled water and those less than 4 mm were placed on individual microscope slides. The small end of the seed was cut and the cotyledons pressed out of the seed coat. Cotyledons were transferred to plates containing SB199 medium (25-30 cotyledons per plate) for 2 weeks, and then transferred to SB1 for 2-4 weeks. Plates were wrapped with fiber tape and were maintained at 26° C. with cool white fluorescent lights on 16:8 h day/night photoperiod at light intensity of 60-80 μE/m2/s. After incubation on SB1 medium, secondary embryos were cut and placed into SB196 liquid media for 7 days.

Preparation of DNA for Bombardment:

A DNA fragment from soybean expression plasmid pKR1059 containing the Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase and EgD8S-23, the construction of which is described herein, was obtained by gel isolation of digested plasmids. For this, 100 μg of plasmid DNA was used in 0.5 mL of the specific enzyme mix described below. Plasmid was digested with AscI (100 units) in NEBuffer 4 (20 mM Tris-acetate, 10 mM magnesium acetate, 50 mM potassium acetate, 1 mM dithiothreitol, pH 7.9), 100 μg/mL BSA, and 5 mM beta-mercaptoethanol at 37° C. for 1.5 hr. The resulting DNA fragments were separated by gel electrophoresis on 1% SeaPlaque GTG agarose (BioWhitaker Molecular Applications) and the DNA fragments containing gene cassettes were cut from the agarose gel. DNA was purified from the agarose using the GELase digesting enzyme following the manufacturer's protocol.

A 50 μL aliquot of sterile distilled water containing 1 mg of gold particles was added to 5 μL of a 1 ug/μL DNA solution (DNA fragment prepared as described herein), 50 μL 2.5M CaCl₂ and 20 μL of 0.1 M spermidine. The mixture was shaken 3 min on level 3 of a vortex shaker and spun for 10 sec in a bench microfuge. The supernatant was removed, followed by a wash with 400 μL 100% ethanol and another brief centrifugation. The 400 ul ethanol was removed and the pellet was resuspended in 85 μL of 100% ethanol. Five μL of DNA suspension was dispensed to each flying disk of the Biolistic PDS1000/HE instrument disk. Each 5 μL aliquot contained approximately 0.058 mg gold per bombardment (e.g., per disk).

Tissue Preparation and Bombardment with DNA:

Approximately 100-150 mg of seven day old embryogenic suspension cultures was placed in an empty, sterile 60×15 mm petri dish and the dish was covered with plastic mesh. The chamber was evacuated to a vacuum of 27-28 inches of mercury, and tissue was bombarded one or two shots per plate with membrane rupture pressure set at 650 PSI. Tissue was placed approximately 2.5 inches from the retaining/stopping screen.

Selection of Transformed Embryos and Embryo Maturation:

Transformed embryos were selected using hygromycin (hygromycin B phosphotransferase (HPT) gene was used as the selectable marker).

Following bombardment, the tissue was placed into fresh SB196 media and cultured as described above. Six to eight days post-bombardment, the SB196 was exchanged with fresh SB196 containing either 30 mg/L hygromycin. The selection media was refreshed weekly. Four to six weeks post-selection, green, transformed tissue was observed growing from untransformed, necrotic embryogenic clusters.

Transformed embryogenic clusters were removed from SB196 media to 35 mL of SB228 (SHaM liquid media; Schmidt et al., Cell Biology and Morphogenesis 24:393 (2005)) in a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask for 2-3 weeks. Tissue cultured in SB228 was maintained on a rotary shaker at 130 rpm and 26° C. with cool white fluorescent lights on a 16:8 hr day/night photoperiod at a light intensity of 60-85 μE/m2/s.

After maturation in flasks on SB228 media, individual embryos were removed from the clusters, dried and screened for alterations in their fatty acid compositions as described supra.

Media Recipes:

SB 196-FN Lite Liquid Proliferation Medium (per Liter)

MS FeEDTA - 100x Stock 1 10 mL MS Sulfate - 100x Stock 2 10 mL FN Lite Halides - 100x Stock 3 10 mL FN Lite P, B, Mo - 100x Stock 4 10 mL B5 vitamins (1 mL/L) 1.0 mL 2,4-D (10 mg/L final concentration) 1.0 mL KNO₃ 2.83 gm (NH₄)₂SO₄ 0.463 gm asparagine 1.0 gm sucrose (1%) 10 gm pH 5.8

FN Lite Stock Solutions

Stock Number 1000 mL 500 mL 1 MS Fe EDTA 100x Stock Na₂ EDTA* 3.724 g  1.862 g  FeSO₄—7H₂O 2.784 g  1.392 g  2 MS Sulfate 100x stock MgSO₄—7H₂O 37.0 g 18.5 g MnSO₄—H₂O 1.69 g 0.845 g  ZnSO₄—7H₂O 0.86 g 0.43 g CuSO₄—5H₂O 0.0025 g  0.00125 g   3 FN Lite Halides 100x Stock CaCl₂—2H₂O 30.0 g 15.0 g KI 0.083 g  0.0715 g  CoCl₂—6H₂O 0.0025 g  0.00125 g   4 FN Lite P, B, Mo 100x Stock KH₂PO₄ 18.5 g 9.25 g H₃BO₃ 0.62 g 0.31 g Na₂MoO₄—2H₂O 0.025 g  0.0125 g  *Add first, dissolve in dark bottle while stirring

SB1 Solid Medium (per Liter)

1 package MS salts (Gibco/BRL-Cat. No. 11117-066)

1 mL B5 vitamins 1000X stock

31.5 g glucose

2 mL 2,4-D (20 mg/L final concentration)

pH 5.7

8 g TC agar

SB199 Solid Medium (per Liter)

1 package MS salts (Gibco/BRL-Cat. No. 11117-066)

1 mL B5 vitamins 1000X stock

30 g Sucrose

4 ml 2,4-D (40 mg/L final concentration)

pH 7.0

2 gm Gelrite

SB 166 Solid Medium (per Liter)

1 package MS salts (Gibco/BRL-Cat. No. 11117-066)

1 mL B5 vitamins 1000X stock

60 g maltose

750 mg MgCl₂ hexahydrate

5 g activated charcoal

pH 5.7

2 g gelrite

SB 103 Solid Medium (per Liter)

1 package MS salts (Gibco/BRL-Cat. No. 11117-066)

1 mL B5 vitamins 1000X stock

60 g maltose

750 mg MgCl2 hexahydrate

pH 5.7

2 g gelrite

SB 71-4 Solid Medium (per Liter)

1 bottle Gamborg's B5 salts w/sucrose (Gibco/BRL-Cat. No. 21153-036)

pH 5.7

5 g TC agar

2,4-D Stock

Obtain premade from Phytotech Cat. No. D 295—concentration 1 mg/mL

B5 Vitamins Stock (per 100 mL)

Store aliquots at −20° C.

10 g myo-inositol

100 mg nicotinic acid

100 mg pyridoxine HCl

1 g thiamine

If the solution does not dissolve quickly enough, apply a low level of heat via the hot stir plate.

SB 228-Soybean Histodifferentiation & Maturation (SHaM) (per Liter)

DDI H₂O 600 mL FN-Lite Macro Salts for SHaM 10X 100 mL MS Micro Salts 1000x 1 mL MS FeEDTA 100x 10 mL CaCl 100x 6.82 mL B5 Vitamins 1000x 1 mL L-Methionine 0.149 g Sucrose 30 g Sorbitol 30 g Adjust volume to 900 mL pH 5.8 Autoclave Add to cooled media (≦30° C.): *Glutamine (final concentration 30 mM) 4% 110 mL *Note: Final volume will be 1010 mL after glutamine addition. Since glutamine degrades relatively rapidly, it may be preferable to add immediately prior to using media. Expiration 2 weeks after glutamine is added; base media can be kept longer w/o glutamine.

FN-Lite Macro for SHAM 10X Stock #1 (per Liter)

(NH₄)2SO₄ (ammonium sulfate) 4.63 g KNO₃ (potassium nitrate) 28.3 g MgSO₄*7H₂0 (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate)  3.7 g KH₂PO₄ (potassium phosphate, monobasic) 1.85 g Bring to volume Autoclave

MS Micro 1000X Stock #2 (per 1 Liter)

H₃BO₃ (boric acid)  6.2 g MnSO₄*H₂O (manganese sulfate monohydrate)  16.9 g ZnSO₄*7H20 (zinc sulfate heptahydrate)  8.6 g Na₂MoO₄*2H20 (sodium molybdate dihydrate)  0.25 g CuSO₄*5H₂0 (copper sulfate pentahydrate) 0.025 g CoCl₂*6H₂0 (cobalt chloride hexahydrate) 0.025 g KI (potassium iodide) 0.8300 g  Bring to volume Autoclave

FeEDTA 1100X Stock #3 (per Liter)

Na₂EDTA* (sodium EDTA) 3.73 g FeSO₄*7H₂0 (iron sulfate heptahydrate) 2.78 g *EDTA must be completely dissolved before adding iron. Bring to Volume Solution is photosensitive. Bottle(s) should be wrapped in foil to omit light. Autoclave

Ca 100X Stock #4 (per Liter)

CaCl₂*2H₂0 (calcium chloride dihydrate) 44 g Bring to Volume Autoclave

B5 Vitamin 1000X Stock #5 (per Liter)

Thiamine * HCl 10 g  Nicotinic Acid 1 g Pyridoxine * HCl 1 g Myo-Inositol 100 g  Bring to Volume Store frozen

4% Glutamine Stock #6 (per Liter)

DDI water heated to 30° C. 900 mL L-Glutamine  40 g Gradually add while stirring and applying low heat. Do not exceed 35° C. Bring to Volume Filter Sterilize Store frozen* *Note: Warm thawed stock in 31° C. bath to fully dissolve crystals.

Example 16 Identification of a Delta-9 Elongase from Euglena gracilis

The present Example, disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 60/739,989, describes the isolation of a delta-9 elongase from Euglena gracilis (SEQ ID NOs:175 and 176).

Euglena qracilis Growth Conditions, Lipid Profile and mRNA Isolation

Euglena gracilis was obtained from Dr. Richard Triemer's lab at Michigan State University (East Lansing, Mich.). From 10 mL of actively growing culture, a 1 mL aliquot was transferred into 250 mL of Euglena gracilis (Eg) Medium in a 500 mL glass bottle. Eg medium was made by combining 1 g of sodium acetate, 1 g of beef extract (U126-01, Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.), 2 g of Bacto® tryptone (0123-17-3, Difco Laboratories), 2 g of Bacto® yeast extract (0127-17-9, Difco Laboratories) in 970 mL of water. After filter sterilizing, 30 mL of soil-water supernatant (15-3790, Carolina Biological Supply Company, Burlington, N.C.) was aseptically added to give the final Eg medium. Euglena gracilis cultures were grown at 23° C. with a 16 h light, 8 h dark cycle for 2 weeks with no agitation.

After 2 weeks, 10 mL of culture was removed for lipid analysis and centrifuged at 1,800×g for 5 min. The pellet was washed once with water and re-centrifuged. The resulting pellet was dried for 5 min under vacuum, resuspended in 100 μL of trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) and incubated at room temperature for 15 min with shaking. After this, 0.5 mL of hexane was added and the vials were incubated for 15 min at room temperature with shaking. Fatty acid methyl esters (5 μL injected from hexane layer) were separated and quantified using a Hewlett-Packard 6890 Gas Chromatograph fitted with an Omegawax 320 fused silica capillary column (Supelco Inc., Cat. No. 24152). The oven temperature was programmed to hold at 220° C. for 2.7 min, increase to 240° C. at 20° C./min and then hold for an additional 2.3 min. Carrier gas was supplied by a Whatman hydrogen generator. Retention times were compared to those for methyl esters of standards commercially available (Nu-Chek Prep, Inc. Cat. No. U-99-A).

The remaining 2 week culture (240 mL) was pelleted by centrifugation at 1,800×g for 10 min, washed once with water and re-centrifuged. Total RNA was extracted from the resulting pellet using the RNA STAT-60™ reagent (TEL-TEST, Inc., Friendswood, Tex.) and following the manufacturer's protocol provided (use 5 mL of reagent, dissolved RNA in 0.5 mL of water). In this way, 1 mg of total RNA (2 mg/mL) was obtained from the pellet. The mRNA was isolated from 1 mg of total RNA using the mRNA Purification Kit (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, N.J.) following the manufacturer's protocol provided. In this way, 85 μg of mRNA was obtained.

Euglena qracilis cDNA Synthesis, Library Construction and Sequencing

A cDNA library was generated using the Cloneminer™ cDNA Library Construction Kit (Cat. No. 18249-029, Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) and following the manufacturer's protocol provided (Version B, 25-0608). Using the non-radiolabeling method, cDNA was synthesized from 3.2 μg of mRNA (described above) using the Biotin-attB2-Oligo(dT) primer. After synthesis of the first and second strand, the attB1 adapter was added, ligated and the cDNA was size fractionated using column chromatography. DNA from fractions 7 and 8 (size ranging from ˜800-1500 bp) were concentrated, recombined into pDONR™222 and transformed into E. coli ElectroMAX™ DH10B™ T1 Phage-Resistant cells (Invitrogen Corporation). The Euglena gracilis library was named eeg1c.

For sequencing, clones first were recovered from archived glycerol cultures grown/frozen in 384-well freezing media plates, and replicated with a sterile 384 pin replicator (Genetix, Boston, Mass.) in 384-well microtiter plates containing LB+75 μg/mL Kanamycin (replicated plates). Plasmids then were isolated, using the Templiphi DNA sequencing template amplification kit method (Amersham Biosciences) following the manufacturer's protocol. Briefly, the Templiphi method uses bacteriophage φ29 DNA polymerase to amplify circular single-stranded or double-stranded DNA by isothermal rolling circle amplification (Dean et al., Genome Res., 11:1095-1099 (2001); Nelson et al., Biotechniques, 32:S44-S47 (2002)). After growing 20 h at 37° C., cells from the replicated plate were added to 5 μL of dilution buffer and denatured at 95° C. for 3 min to partially lyse cells and release the denatured template. Templiphi premix (5 μL) was then added to each sample and the resulting reaction mixture was incubated at 30° C. for 16 h, then at 65° C. for 10 min to inactivate the φ29 DNA polymerase activity. DNA quantification with the PicoGreen® dsDNA Quantitation Reagent (Molecular Probes) was performed after diluting the amplified samples 1:3 in distilled water.

The amplified products then were denatured at 95° C. for 10 min and end-sequenced in 384-well plates, using the M13F universal primer (SEQ ID NO:193), and the ABI BigDye version 3.1 Prism Sequencing Kit. For the sequencing reaction, 100-200 ng of templates and 6.4 pmol of primers were used, and the following reaction conditions were repeated 25 times: 96° C. for 10 sec, 50° C. for 5 sec and 60° C. for 4 min. After ethanol-based cleanup, cycle sequencing reaction products were resolved and detected on Perkin-Elmer ABI 3730xl automated sequencers.

Identification of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Elongation

Enzyme Homologs From Euglena gracilis cDNA Library eeg1c

cDNA clones encoding long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid elongation enzyme homologs (LC-PUFA ELO homologs or delta-9 elongases) were identified by conducting BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1993)) searches for similarity to sequences contained in the BLAST “nr” database (comprising all non-redundant GenBank CDS translations, sequences derived from the 3-dimensional structure Brookhaven Protein Data Bank, the last major release of the SWISS-PROT protein sequence database, EMBL and DDBJ databases). The Euglena gracilis cDNA sequences obtained above were analyzed for similarity to all publicly available DNA sequences contained in the “nr” database using the BLASTN algorithm provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The DNA sequences were translated in all reading frames and compared for similarity to all publicly available protein sequences contained in the “nr” database using the BLASTX algorithm (Gish and States, Nat. Genet., 3:266-272 (1993)) provided by the NCBI. For convenience, the P-value (probability) of observing a match of a cDNA sequence to a sequence contained in the searched databases merely by chance as calculated by BLAST are reported herein as “pLog” values, which represent the negative of the logarithm of the reported P-value. Accordingly, the greater the pLog value, the greater the likelihood that the cDNA sequence and the BLAST “hit” represent homologous proteins.

The BLASTX search using the nucleotide sequences from clone eeg1c.pk001.n5.f revealed similarity of the protein encoded by the cDNA to the long-chain PUFA elongation enzyme from Isochrysis galbana (SEQ ID NO:173) (GenBank Accession No. AAL37626 (GI 17226123), locus AAL37626, CDS AF390174; Qi et al., FEBS Lett. 510(3):159-165 (2002)). The sequence of a portion of the cDNA insert from clone eeg1c.pk001.n5.f is shown in SEQ ID NO:194 (5′ end of cDNA insert). Additional sequence was obtained from the 3′ end of the cDNA insert of eeg1c.pk001.n5.1 as described above, but using the poly(A) tail-primed WobbleT oligonucleotides. Briefly, the WobbleT primer is an equimolar mix of 21 mer poly(T)A, poly(T)C, and poly(T)G, used to sequence the 3′ end of cDNA clones.

The 3′ end sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO:195. Both the 5′ and 3′ sequences were aligned using Sequencher™ (Version 4.2, Gene Codes Corporation, Ann Arbor, Mich.) and the resulting sequence for the cDNA is shown in SEQ ID NO:196 (1201 bp). Sequence for the coding sequence from the cDNA in eeg1c.pk001.n5.f and the corresponding deduced amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO:175 (777 bp) and SEQ ID NO:176 (258 amino acids), respectively.

The amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:176 was evaluated by BLASTP, yielding a pLog value of 38.70 (E value of 2e-39) versus the Isochrysis galbana sequence (SEQ ID NO:173). The Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase is 39.4% identical to the Isochrysis galbana delta-9 elongase sequence using the Jotun Hein method. Sequence percent identity calculations performed by the Jotun Hein method (Hein, J. J., Meth. Enz., 183:626-645 (1990)) were done using the MegAlign™ v6.1 program of the LASERGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.) with the default parameters for pairwise alignment (KTUPLE=2). The Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase is 31.8% identical to the Isochrysis galbana delta-9 elongase sequence using the Clustal V method. Sequence percent identity calculations performed by the Clustal V method (Higgins, D. G. and Sharp, P. M., Comput. Appl. Biosci., 5:151-153 (1989); Higgins et al., Comput. Appl. Biosci., 8:189-191 (1992)) were done using the MegAlign™ v6.1 program of the LASERGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.) with the default parameters for pairwise alignment (KTUPLE=1, GAP PENALTY=3, WINDOW=5 and DIAGONALS SAVED=5 and GAP LENGTH PENALTY=10). BLAST scores and probabilities indicate that the nucleic acid fragment described herein as SEQ ID NO:175 encodes an entire Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase.

Example 17 Functional Analysis of EgD8S-23 and the Euglena gracilis Delta-9 Elongase in Somatic Soybean Embryos Transformed with Soybean Expression Vector pKR1059

Mature somatic soybean embryos are a good model for zygotic embryos. While in the globular embryo state in liquid culture, somatic soybean embryos contain very low amounts of triacylglycerol or storage proteins typical of maturing, zygotic soybean embryos. At this developmental stage, the ratio of total triacylglyceride to total polar lipid (phospholipids and glycolipid) is about 1:4, as is typical of zygotic soybean embryos at the developmental stage from which the somatic embryo culture was initiated. At the globular stage as well, the mRNAs for the prominent seed proteins, α′-subunit of β-conglycinin, kunitz trypsin inhibitor 3, and seed lectin are essentially absent. Upon transfer to hormone-free media to allow differentiation to the maturing somatic embryo state, triacylglycerol becomes the most abundant lipid class. As well, mRNAs for α′-subunit of β-conglycinin, kunitz trypsin inhibitor 3 and seed lectin become very abundant messages in the total mRNA population. On this basis, the somatic soybean embryo system behaves very similarly to maturing zygotic soybean embryos in vivo, and is thus a good and rapid model system for analyzing the phenotypic effects of modifying the expression of genes in the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway (see PCT Publication No. WO 2002/00904, Example 3). Most importantly, the model system is also predictive of the fatty acid composition of seeds from plants derived from transgenic embryos.

Fatty Acid Analysis of Transgenic Somatic Soybean Embryos Expressing pKR1059

Individual single, matured, somatic soybean embryos that had been transformed with pKR1059 (as described in Example 15 transformants were matured on SHaM liquid media) were picked into glass GC vials and fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by transesterification. For transesterification, 50 μL of trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) and 0.5 mL of hexane were added to the embryos in glass vials and incubated for 30 min at room temperature while shaking. Fatty acid methyl esters (5 μL injected from hexane layer) were separated and quantified using a Hewlett-Packard 6890 Gas Chromatograph fitted with an Omegawax 320 fused silica capillary column (Catalog #24152, Supelco Inc.). The oven temperature was programmed to hold at 220° C. for 2.6 min, increase to 240° C. at 20° C./min and then hold for an additional 2.4 min. Carrier gas was supplied by a Whatman hydrogen generator. Retention times were compared to those for methyl esters of standards commercially available (Nu-Chek Prep, Inc.). Routinely, 6 embryos per event were analyzed by GC, using the methodology described above.

Embryo fatty acid profiles for 31 individual events (6 embryos each) containing pKR1059 were obtained and of these, 23 events contained at least 1 embryo with greater than 1% EDA. The lipid profiles of somatic soybean embryos expressing EgD8S-23 and the Euglena gracilis delta-9 elongase for the top 5 events are shown in FIG. 14. Fatty acids are identified as 16:0 (palmitate), 18:0 (stearic acid), 18:1 (oleic acid), LA, GLA, ALA, EDA, DGLA, ERA and ETA; and, fatty acid compositions listed in FIG. 4 are expressed as a weight percent (wt. %) of total fatty acids. The delta-8 desaturase activity of EgD8S-23 is expressed as percent desaturation (% desat), calculated according to the following formula: ([product]/[substrate+product])*100.

More specifically, the combined percent desaturation for EDA and ERA is shown as “C20% delta-8 desat”, determined as: ([DGLA+ETA]/[DGLA+ETA+EDA+ERA])*100. This is also referred to as the overall % desaturation. The individual omega-6 delta-8 desaturation (“EDA % delta-8 desat.”) was calculated as: ([DGLA]/[DGLA+EDA])*100. Similarly, the individual omega-3 delta-8 desaturation (“ERA % delta-8 desat.”) was calculated as: ([ETA]/[ETA+ERA])*100. The ratio of delta-8 desaturation for omega-6 versus omega-3 substrates (“ratio [EDA/ERA] % desat.”) was obtained by dividing the EDA % delta-8 desaturation by the ERA % delta-8 desaturation.

In summary of FIG. 14, EgD8S-23 worked in soybean to convert both EDA and ERA to DGLA and ETA, respectively. The line with the highest average DGLA content (i.e., 2063-1-4) had embryos with an average DGLA content of 13.2% and an average ETA content of 4.2%. The highest DGLA and ETA content for an individual embryo from this line was 13.5% and 4.3%, respectively. The highest average overall % desaturation was 68.6% with the highest overall % desaturation for an individual embryo being 69.7%. When broken down into % desaturation for the omega-6 and omega-3 substrates, the highest average % desaturation was 65.4% and 81.3% for EDA and ERA, respectively. The highest % desaturation for an individual embryo was 66.6% and 84.1% for EDA and ERA, respectively. In this example, the D8S-23 had a preference for ERA over EDA, with the average desaturation ratio ranging from 0.7 to 0.8. No significant levels of GLA was found to accumulate in the embryos. 

1. A method for producing at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid in a soybean seed comprising: (a) transforming a soybean cell with a first recombinant construct and at least one additional recombinant construct, said first recombinant construct comprising at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding at least one delta-8 desaturase polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, wherein SEQ ID NO:2 comprises at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of: 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 132V to L, 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 279T to L, 280L to T, 293L to M, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A and 422L to Q, wherein the mutations are defined with respect to SEQ ID NO:10, said at least one additional recombinant construct comprising at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a delta-4 desaturase, a delta-5 desaturase, a delta-6 desaturase, a delta-8 desaturase, a delta-12 desaturase, a delta-15 desaturase, a delta-17 desaturase, a delta-9 desaturase, a delta-9 elongase, a C_(14/16) elongase, a C_(16/18) elongase, a C_(18/20) elongase and a C_(20/22) elongase; (b) regenerating a soybean plant from the transformed soybean cell of step (a); and (c) selecting seeds obtained from the plants of step (b) having an altered level of polyunsaturated fatty acids when compared to the level in seeds obtained from a nontransformed soybean plant.
 2. An oilseed plant comprising: (a) a first recombinant construct, said first recombinant construct comprising at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding at least one delta-8 desaturase polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, wherein SEQ ID NO:2 comprises at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of: 4S to A, 5K to S, 12T to V, 16T to K, 17T to V, 54A to G, 55F to Y, 66P to Q, 67S to A, 108S to L, 117G to A, 118Y to F, 120L to M, 121M to L, 125Q to H, 126M to L, 132V to L, 133L to V, 162L to V, 163V to L, 170G to A, 171L to V, 279T to L, 280L to T, 293L to M, 346I to V, 347I to L, 348T to S, 407A to S, 408V to Q, 418A to G, 419G to A and 422L to Q, wherein the mutations are defined with respect to SEQ ID NO:10; and (b) at least one additional recombinant construct comprising at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a delta-4 desaturase, a delta-5 desaturase, a delta-6 desaturase, a delta-8 desaturase, a delta-12 desaturase, a delta-15 desaturase, a delta-17 desaturase, a delta-9 desaturase, a delta-9 elongase, C_(14/16) elongase, a C_(16/18) elongase, a C_(18/20) elongase and a C_(20/22) elongase.
 3. The oilseed plant of claim 2, wherein the oilseed plant is selected from the group consisting of soybean, Brassica species, sunflower, maize, cotton, flax and safflower.
 4. A transgenic seed obtained from the oilseed plant of claim
 2. 5. Food or feed comprising the seed of claim
 4. 6. Progeny plants obtained from the transgenic seed of claim
 4. 